The Reykjavik Einherjar from Iceland will face their stiffest test yet Saturday, March 24 in Kópavogur, Iceland when they face 2017 Swedish semifinalists, the Uppsala 86ers.
The Einherjar’s reputation has been growing steadily over the past three years, making it a little easier to find games. Nevertheless, they are still the only football team in Iceland. And being an island nation with a population of only 300,000, located 1,200 miles north of London, England, Iceland is still as remote as it gets in terms of American football. So the Einherjar spend most of the year practicing, while they troll the international American football community for games.
This has not deterred the Einherjar though. In the past two years the team has hosted teams from Austria, Norway, Germany and Great Britain, winning five games and losing three. They lost to the Carinthian Lions from Austria just over a month ago in a tight game, 19-14. They traveled to Mallorca in late October last year to play the Spanish first division team the Mallorca Voltors. Reykjavík won the game, 21-14.
The 86ers are traveling to Iceland with a 30 man roster including quarterback and Euro veteran John Rock.
Uppsala reached the Swedish semifinals in 2017 losing to the eventual champions, the Carlstad Crusaders. They advanced all the way to the final in 2016, also losing to the Crusaders 34-21 but in a hard-fought game.
Watch the game live. Uppsala 86ers @Reykjavik Einherjar Sat. March 24, 8p (9p CET, 3p EST)
