Iraq vs Norway Betting Odds, Lineups, Prediction & Best Bets

Iraq vs Norway Match Summary

Iraq and Norway meet in a World Cup group stage opener at Boston Stadium on Tuesday — a match loaded with meaning for two nations making long-awaited returns to soccer's biggest stage.

Iraq are back at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, having scraped through an inter-confederation playoff with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in April 2026.

Norway return to the tournament for the first time since 1998, armed with Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard — two of the most dangerous players on the planet right now.

This is the first-ever senior competitive meeting between these two nations, and with France and Senegal also in Group I, the loser faces an uphill battle to advance.

Iraq vs Norway Form

Iraq's path here was hard-earned. The playoff victory over Bolivia showed resilience, and a 1-1 friendly draw against Spain in the lead-up offered genuine encouragement. However, a 2-0 loss to Venezuela on June 9 exposed defensive vulnerabilities that Norway will look to exploit. Aymen Hussein remains the key attacking threat.

Norway comes in riding a wave of momentum — an undefeated UEFA qualifying campaign with eight wins from eight, outscoring opponents 37-5. Erling Haaland was the top scorer in European qualifying with 16 goals across those eight matches. A 3-1 win over Sweden and a 1-1 draw with Morocco round out their recent form heading into the tournament.

Iraq vs Norway Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

Iraq: None reported

Norway: None reported

Iraq

Iraq have no injury news or suspensions heading into this clash. Aymen Hussein is set to start in attack alongside Ali Al-Hamadi, with ex-Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal in midfield. Veteran goalkeeper Jalal Hassan will start in goal for Iraq.

Norway

Norway possess plenty of attacking flair, with Oscar Bobb, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sorloth, and Erling Haaland. Haaland is set to spearhead the Norway attack, with two of the aforementioned list of forwards supporting him. Arsenal's Martin Odegaard will provide extra creativity from midfield.

Iraq vs Norway Predicted Lineup

Iraq

Formation: 4-1-3-2

Predicted Starting Lineup: A. Basil; H. Ali, Z. Tahseen, A. Hashim, M. Doski; Z. Iqbal; M. Farji, A. A. Ammari, A. Jasim; A. Hussein, A. A. Hamadi

Norway

Formation: 4-3-3

Predicted Starting Lineup: Ø. Nyland; J. Ryerson, K. Ajer, T. Heggem, D. M. Wolfe; S. Berge, P. Berg, M. Ødegaard; A. Sørloth, E. Haaland, A. Nusa

Iraq vs Norway Key Stats & Match Facts

• This is the first-ever senior competitive meeting between Iraq and Norway in international soccer.
• Iraq are appearing in the World Cup for just the second time in their history — their only prior appearance came in 1986.
• Norway are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, ending a 28-year absence from the tournament.
• Norway won all eight of their UEFA qualifying matches, scoring 37 goals and conceding just five.
• Erling Haaland finished as the top scorer in European World Cup qualifying with 16 goals in eight appearances.

Iraq vs Norway Talking Points

The defining storyline here is how Iraq plan to contain Erling Haaland. A structured defensive block is the most likely approach, but the real chess match is in midfield. Zidane Iqbal — the Manchester United academy product who chose to represent Iraq — needs to disrupt the supply line from Martin Ødegaard to Haaland. If Iqbal can clog those central passing lanes, Iraq has a chance to keep this tight and hit on the counter through Aymen Hussein.

There is also an off-field narrative adding emotional fuel for the Iraqi squad: forward Aymen Hussein was delayed for seven hours at a Chicago airport due to visa issues before being cleared to join the team. Norway's head coach Ståle Solbakken publicly criticized the situation. That kind of adversity can galvanize a team, and Iraq will carry that chip on their shoulder into Boston Stadium.

Iraq vs Norway Predictions FAQs

When is the Iraq vs Norway World Cup game?

The Iraq vs Norway World Cup match is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

What is the Iraq vs Norway prediction?

Norway are the clear favorites here. The Norwegians bring a perfect qualifying record, an elite striker in Erling Haaland, and a creative engine in Martin Ødegaard. Iraq showed fight to get here, but the defensive gaps exposed in their June loss to Venezuela are a real concern against this level of opposition.

What are the expected lineups for Iraq vs Norway?

The official lineups will be confirmed shortly before kickoff, with both nations expected to field their strongest available starting elevens.

Where can I watch the Iraq vs Norway match?

The Iraq vs Norway World Cup match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports in English and Telemundo in Spanish in the United States, and on TSN, CTV, and RDS in Canada.

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