No, this could not be real.
First of all, the friend who (quote) "just so happens to work at Firaxis" just sounds fake. You don't use "just so happens" if you're serious.
Also, iceland would have far, far, far too much overlap with Norway if it would be based on sagas, as that's just the vikings. Which Norway basically is too.
And they also won't add the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, who have really achieved barely a fraction of Australia. Except, I guess, for a nuclear weapon program, but then you should probably add Israel first as they got a number of impressive military achievements like the 6-day war.