Surely the most crowded map in the country is from this division – with the eastern part of the capital and the western part of Reykjanes proving how important it is to keep your enemies close. I’m keeping this one relatively short as I’m quite busy with things outside of B11 but want to get these “previews” out. I’ve also added some additional information in the “Location” sections, which along with the maps should offer more context to those less familiar.
Fjölnir
Location: Grafarvogur, Reykjavík
Home venue: Fjölnisvöllur; Egilshöll*
Head Coach: Gunnar Már Guðmundsson
2024: 3rd
First 3 Games: LDD – 11th place, 2 points
The club from the east side of the capital had the worst end of season form of the playoff sides last year, and were beaten in the semi-final by eventual winner Afturelding. They’re perhaps bringing that energy into the new season having given up a lead in all 3 games so far.
B11’s player to watch: Rafael Máni Þrastarson is one of the most highly-touted youngsters in the division and signed a new three-year contract in March. Starting last season with Fjölnir dev-squad Vængir Júpíters, he came up to the Lengjudeild in August and bagged 2 goals, a feat already equaled this season.
Fylkir
Location: Árbær, Reykjavík
Home venue: tekk VÖLLURINN
Head Coach: Árni Freyr Guðnason
2024: Relegated
First 3 Games: DWD – 3rd place, 5 points
One of four undefeated teams, they still have a lot of Besta deild talent in the squad. Anything less than the playoffs will be a disappointment for them and their very busy new jerseys. What is it with this division and smudgy colours?
B11’s player to watch: Eyþór Aron Wöhler always seems to be a fan favourite, is it just because he’s in a band? When at KR last season there were reports that his focus on music was a point of contention with football coaches.
Grindavík
Location: Grindavík, Reykjanes
Home venue: Stakkavíkurvöllur
Head Coach: Haraldur Árni Hróðmarsson
2024: 9th
First 3 Games: LDW – 6th place, 4 points
The season is already an unbridled success for Grindavík simply because they have been able to return home following the incessant eruption disruption. They’re probably the only Icelandic team that will have an article written about them in The Guardian this season
B11’s player to watch: Sindri Þór Guðmundsson is an experienced head among a pretty young squad. Signed this winter from Reynir Sandgerði, he can play multiple roles this season.
HK
Location: Kópavogur, Capital Region
Home venue: Kórinn
Head Coach: Hermann Hreiðarsson
2024: Relegated
First 3 Games: DDW – 4th place, 5 points
Only relegated on goal difference last year, HK have brought in the big-name, former Premier League player and now coach, from ÍBV. The undefeated start is tempered by a lack of scoring, managing one goal in each game so far and the last two both coming late on.
B11’s player to watch: Brynjar Snær Pálsson has been an important piece of the puzzle for HK ever since signing from ÍA a couple years ago. I’d like to see the 23-year-old kick on and become their star.
ÍR
Location: Breiðholt, Reykjavík
Home venue: AutoCenter-völlurinn; Egilshöll*
Head Coach: Jóhann Birnir Guðmundsson
2024: 5th
First 3 Games: WDD – 5th place, 5 points
Only promoted from 2.deild in 2023, ÍR made the Lengjudeild playoffs in their first attempt and were only 4 points of the title. Their start has been almost identical to that of HK: undefeated with one goal per game. That said, it’s a fine start for a team that will want to avoid second-season syndrome.
B11’s player to watch: Scottish defender Marc McAusland finds himself in Breiðholtfor a second season having accumulated a wealth of Icelandic experience in Reykjanes.
Keflavík
Location: Keflavík, Reykjanesbær
Home venues: HS Orku völlurinn
Head Coach: Haraldur Freyr Guðmundsson
2024: 2nd
First 3 Games: WLW – 1st place, 6 points
There is little worse than missing the title by a single point, except maybe then missing out on promotion through the playoffs when you were the 2nd place team. A fresh attempt at returnign to Besta deild has had a better start than any other club, the only one to win 2 from the first 3 – which honestly seems kind of strange.
B11’s player to watch: A breakout season could be on the cards for Gabríel Aron Sævarsson. The 19-year-old grabbed his first senior goal in the 120th minute of the Milk Cup quarter final last year to send the game to penalties, where Valur finally despatched Keflavík. He’s added two more cup goals this year and now has 3 already in the league.
Leiknir Reykjavík
Location: Breiðholt, Reykjavík
Home venue: Domusnovavöllurinn
Head Coach: Ólafur Hrannar Kristjánsson
2024: 8th
First 3 Games: DLL – 12th place, 1 point
Leiknir welcomed Breiðholt-rivals ÍR to Lengjudeildin last year after not playing in the same division since 2018. The clubs took a 1-0 win each but Leiknir had the much more disappointing season. they’ll have to do a lot better than how they’ve started in 2025 if they want to get back to being the #1 Elvis fans.
B11’s player to watch: if Dagur Ingi Hammer Gunnarsson can get back to his prior form where he was scoring 9 or 10 a season for Grindavík, it could have a huge bearing on his teams’ fortunes this year.
Njarðvík
Location: Njarðvík, Reykjanesbær
Home venue: JBÓ völlurinn
Head Coach: Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson
2024: 6th
First 3 Games: DWD- 2nd place, 5 points
Surviving the drop on goal difference in 2023, Njarðvík got off to a flying start in 2024, only to drop off and finish just outside the playoffs. There’s still a very positive trajectory forming and an easy target to set if they want to go one better this year.
B11’s player to watch: Oumar Diouck had 16 goals in 2.deild in 2022 and the two years in Lengjudeild since have seen a further 19 scored. The Senegal-born Belgian is 30 years-old now, so we will see how his own trajectory matches his clubs’.
Selfoss
Location: Selfoss, South iceland
Home venue: JÁVERK-völlurinn
Head Coach: Bjarni Jóhannsson
2024: Promoted as champions
First 3 Games: WLL – 9th place, 3 points
Selfoss were the team relegated in place of Njarðvík in 2023, but they came straight back up with a dominating title win of 2.deild last year. Losing to the team you got promoted with is less than ideal, but the nature of the defeat was worse – an own goal and then a penalty conceded, both in stoppage time, to lose 2-1.
B11’s player to watch: Frosti Brynjólfsson was evidently a player Selfoss liked when they came up against him for Haukar last year. A proven goalscorer in the third tier, he now has a chance to kick it up a notch.
Þór
Location: Akureyri, North Iceland
Home venue: Boginn; VÍS völlurinn
Head Coach: Sigurður Heiðar Höskuldsson
2024: 10th
First 3 Games: DWL – 7th place, 4 points
Much like their cross-town rivals in Besta deild, I just feel that the representatives of Akureyri should be putting on a much better show than they have recently. Also like KA, Þór have been creating a greater spectacle in the Milk Cup than the league, as they’re in the quarter finals for a Third year in a row.
B11’s player to watch: Sigfús Fannar Gunnarsson has 3 goals already, which is only one off his league total from last year.
Þróttur Reykjavík
Location: Laugardalur, Reykjavík
Home venue: AVIS völlurinn
Head Coach: Sigurvin Ólafsson
2024: 7th
First 3 Games: DWL – 8th place, 4 points
An identical start to Þór but with fewer goals. The one win being against keflavík looks better (so far) for Þróttur than the northerners win being against Leiknir does though. Another tough opponent comes next in Fylkir.
B11’s player to watch: 17-year-old Jakob Gunnar Sigurðsson was the 2.deild top scorer last year with Völsungur, bagging 25 goals in 22 games. That earned him a transfer to KR, only to be sent on loan to Þróttur where he will play against his old club.
Völsungur
Location: Húsavík, North Iceland
Home venue: PCC völlurinn
Head Coach: Aðalsteinn Jóhann Friðriksson
2024: Promoted as runner-up
First 3 Games: LLW – 10th place, 3 points
Losing such a prolific scorer as a promoted team is tough, and the Húsavík club will likely remain favourites to go back down. However, that win against Selfoss shows a lot of character and an unwillingness to give up. They’ll need to carry that on and they could cause some surprises.
B11’s player to watch: Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson is the perfect tonic to losing a young phenom. The 34-year-old is returning to the club he grew up with before he signed for Breiðablik in 2012 and has been at KA since 2015. With career totals at 485 games and 179 goals, could we see 500 and 200 this year?
Home Venues marked with a * indicate that they are temporarily used by that team due to renovation or poor weather making their main home unfit for use.
- Fjölnir: Egilshöll is an indoor facility a short distance from Fjölnisvöllur but still in the Grafarvogur area. Their season opener was moved there but the team have already returned to their regular grounds
- ÍR: Their season opener was also moved indoors to Egilshöll, but are due back home today (day of writing, May 23rd)
- Þór: You’ll notice two venues listed but no asterisk above – this is because they planned ahead to use the indoor pitch for the first half of the season and the outdoor pitch for the second half. These two facilities are within the same complex.