The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group I is one of the nine UEFA groups for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. The group consists of six teams: Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland, and Kosovo.
The draw for the first round (group stage) was held as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 MSK (UTC+3), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Kosovo was added to the group after the draw, after becoming FIFA members together with Gibraltar in May 2016, and UEFA decided not to put Kosovo in group H together with Bosnia and Herzegovina for security reasons.
The group winners will qualify directly for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Among the nine group runners-up, the eight best runners-up will advance to the play-offs, where they will be drawn into four home-and-away ties to determine the other four qualifiers.
Standings[]
| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tiebreakers |
|---|
In home-and-away league format, the ranking of teams in each group is based on the following criteria (regulations Articles 20.6 and 20.7):
|
| Team | Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Croatia
|
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 13 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup |
 Iceland
|
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 13 | Possible Second round |
 Turkey
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 11 | |
 Ukraine
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | |
 Finland (E)
|
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 1 | |
 Kosovo (E)
|
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 18 | −15 | 1 |
Matches[]
The fixture list prior to the inclusion of Kosovo was confirmed by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day following the draw. Times are CET/CEST, as listed by UEFA (local times are in parentheses).
| 5 September 2016 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Croatia
|
1–1 | Turkey
|
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Attendance: 0 Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rakitić  44' (pen.)
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Çalhanoğlu 45+3'
|
| 5 September 2016 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Finland
|
1–1 | Kosovo
|
Veritas Stadion, Turku Attendance: 7,571 Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arajuuri 18'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
V. Berisha 60' (pen.)
|
| 5 September 2016 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Ukraine
|
1–1 | Iceland
|
Olympic Stadium, Kiev Attendance: 0 Referee: Clément Turpin (France) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarmolenko 41'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Finnbogason 6'
|
| 6 October 2016 20:45 (18:45 UTC±0) |
Iceland
|
3–2 | Finland
|
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík Attendance: 9,548 Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Árnason 37' Finnbogason 90+1'R. Sigurðsson 90+6'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Pukki 21' Lod 39'
|
| 6 October 2016 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Kosovo
|
0–6 | Croatia
|
Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër (Albania) Attendance: 14,612 Referee: David Fernández Borbalán (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Mandžukić 6', 24', 35' Mitrović 68'Perišić 83'N. Kalinić 90+2'
|
| 6 October 2016 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Turkey
|
2–2 | Ukraine
|
Torku Arena, Konya Attendance: 36,714 Referee: Manuel Gräfe (Germany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tufan 45+1' Çalhanoğlu 81' (pen.)
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Yarmolenko 24' (pen.) Kravets 27'
|
| 9 October 2016 18:00 (19:00 UTC+3) |
Finland
|
0–1 | Croatia
|
Tampere Stadium, Tampere Attendance: 15,567 Referee: Ruddy Buquet (France) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Mandžukić 18'
|
| 9 October 2016 18:00 (18:00 UTC+2) |
Ukraine
|
3–0 | Kosovo
|
Marshal Józef Piłsudski Stadium, Kraków (Poland) Attendance: 999 Referee: Kevin Blom (Netherlands) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kravets 31' Yarmolenko 81'Rotan 87'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 9 October 2016 20:45 (18:45 UTC±0) |
Iceland
|
2–0 | Turkey
|
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík Attendance: 9,775 Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toprak 42' (o.g.) Finnbogason 44'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 12 November 2016 18:00 (18:00 UTC+1) |
Croatia
|
2–0 | Iceland
|
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Attendance: 0 Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brozović 15', 90+1'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 12 November 2016 18:00 (20:00 UTC+3) |
Turkey
|
2–0 | Kosovo
|
New Antalya Stadium, Antalya Attendance: 26,555 Referee: Tamás Bognár (Hungary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yılmaz 51' Şen 55'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 12 November 2016 20:45 (21:45 UTC+2) |
Ukraine
|
1–0 | Finland
|
Chornomorets Stadium, Odessa Attendance: 26,482 Referee: Jorge Sousa (Portugal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kravets 25'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 24 March 2017 18:00 (20:00 UTC+3) |
Turkey
|
2–0 | Finland
|
New Antalya Stadium, Antalya Attendance: 28,990 Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tosun 9', 13'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 24 March 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+1) |
Croatia
|
1–0 | Ukraine
|
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb Attendance: 27,351 Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. Kalinić 38'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 24 March 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+1) |
Kosovo
|
1–2 | Iceland
|
Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër (Albania) Attendance: 6,832 Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuhiu 52'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Sigurðarson 25' G. Sigurðsson 35' (pen.)
|
| 11 June 2017 18:00 (19:00 UTC+3) |
Finland
|
1–2 | Ukraine
|
Tampere Stadium, Tampere Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pohjanpalo 72'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Konoplyanka 51' Besyedin 75'
|
| 11 June 2017 20:45 (18:45 UTC±0) |
Iceland
|
1–0 | Croatia
|
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnússon 90'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 11 June 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Kosovo
|
1–4 | Turkey
|
Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër (Albania) Referee: Miroslav Zelinka (Czech Republic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rrahmani 22'
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Şen 7' Ünder 31'Yılmaz 61'Tufan 82'
|
| 2 September 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Croatia
|
2–0 | Kosovo
|
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 2 September 2017 18:00 (19:00 UTC+3) |
Finland
|
0–0 | Iceland
|
Tampere Stadium, Tampere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 2 September 2017 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Ukraine
|
0–0 | Turkey
|
Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 5 September 2017 20:45 (18:45 UTC±0) |
Iceland
|
1–0 | Ukraine
|
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 5 September 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Kosovo
|
2–1 | Finland
|
Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër (Albania) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 5 September 2017 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Turkey
|
2–0 | Croatia
|
New Eskişehir Stadium, Eskişehir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 6 October 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Croatia
|
0–2 | Finland
|
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 6 October 2017 20:45 (20:45 UTC+2) |
Kosovo
|
2–1 | Ukraine
|
Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër (Albania) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 6 October 2017 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Turkey
|
0–0 | Iceland
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 9 October 2017 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Finland
|
1–2 | Turkey
|
Veritas Stadion, Turku |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 9 October 2017 20:45 (18:45 UTC±0) |
Iceland
|
2–2 | Kosovo
|
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
| 9 October 2017 20:45 (21:45 UTC+3) |
Ukraine
|
0–0 | Croatia
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Goalscorers[]
There have been 47 goals scored in 18 matches, for an average of 2.61 goals per match.
- 4 goals
- 3 goals
Alfreð Finnbogason- Artem Kravets
- Andriy Yarmolenko
- 2 goals
- Marcelo Brozović
- Nikola Kalinić
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu
- Volkan Şen
- Cenk Tosun
- Ozan Tufan
- Burak Yılmaz
- 1 goal
- Matej Mitrović
- Ivan Perišić
- Ivan Rakitić
- Paulus Arajuuri
- Robin Lod
- Joel Pohjanpalo
- Teemu Pukki
- Kári Árnason
- Hörður Björgvin Magnússon
- Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson
- Gylfi Sigurðsson
- Ragnar Sigurðsson
- Valon Berisha
- Atdhe Nuhiu
- Amir Rrahmani
- Cengiz Ünder
- Artem Besyedin
- Yevhen Konoplyanka
- Ruslan Rotan
- 1 own goal
- Ömer Toprak (against Iceland)
Discipline[]
A player is automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:
- Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious offences)
- Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches (yellow card suspensions are carried forward to the play-offs, but not the finals or any other future international matches)
The following suspensions were (or will be) served during the qualifying matches:
| Player | Team | Offence(s) | Suspended for match(es) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aron Gunnarsson | Iceland |
 vs Ukraine (5 September 2016) vs Finland (6 October 2016) |
vs Turkey (9 October 2016) |
| Niklas Moisander | Finland |
vs Iceland (6 October 2016) vs Croatia (9 October 2016) |
vs Ukraine (12 November 2016) |
| Hekuran Kryeziu | Kosovo |
vs Finland (5 September 2016) vs Ukraine (9 October 2016) |
vs Turkey (12 November 2016) |
| Emre Mor | Turkey |
vs Ukraine (6 October 2016) vs Iceland (9 October 2016) |
vs Kosovo (12 November 2016) |
| Ivan Perišić | Croatia |
 vs Iceland (12 November 2016) |
vs Ukraine (24 March 2017) |
| Theódór Elmar Bjarnason | Iceland |
vs Ukraine (9 October 2016) vs Croatia (12 November 2016) |
vs Kosovo (24 March 2017) |
| Enis Alushi | Kosovo |
vs Finland (5 September 2016) vs Turkey (12 November 2016) |
vs Iceland (24 March 2017) |
| Thomas Lam | Finland |
vs Kosovo (5 September 2016) vs Ukraine (12 November 2016) |
vs Turkey (24 March 2017) |
| Eduard Sobol | Ukraine |
vs Turkey (6 October 2016) vs Finland (12 November 2016) |
vs Croatia (24 March 2017) |
| Paulus Arajuuri | Finland |
vs Iceland (6 October 2016) vs Turkey (24 March 2017) |
vs Ukraine (11 June 2017) |
| Alexander Ring | Finland |
vs Croatia (9 October 2016) vs Turkey (24 March 2017) |
vs Ukraine (11 June 2017) |
| Yaroslav Rakitskiy | Ukraine |
vs Finland (12 November 2016) vs Finland (11 June 2017) |
vs Turkey (2 September 2017) |
| Bernard Berisha | Kosovo |
vs Turkey (11 June 2017) |
vs Croatia (2 September 2017) |
| Burak Yılmaz | Turkey |
vs Kosovo (12 November 2016) vs Kosovo (11 June 2017) |
vs Ukraine (2 September 2017) |
External links[]
- Official website
- Qualifiers – Europe: Round 1, FIFA.com
- FIFA World Cup, UEFA.com
- Standings – Qualifying round: Group I, UEFA.com
| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| AFC |
| First Round · Second Round · Third Round · Fourth Round (play-off for 5th place) |
| CAF |
| First Round · Second Round · Third Round |
| CONCACAF |
| First Round · Second Round · Third Round · Fourth Round · Fifth Round |
| CONMEBOL |
| Round Robin |
| OFC |
| First Round · Second Round (Nations Cup) · Third Round |
| UEFA |
| First Round · Group A · Group B · Group C · Group D · Group E · Group F · Group G · Group H · Group I · Second Round (play-offs) |
| Play-offs |
| CONCACAF v AFC · OFC v CONMEBOL |