Iraq vs Norway prediction, tips and odds | World Cup 2026

Iraq and Norway meet at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Tuesday 16 June, in the opening fixture of Group I at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Iraq return to the tournament for the first time since Mexico 1986 – their qualification secured via the intercontinental play-off after a 2-1 win over Bolivia – while Norway are back at a World Cup for the first time since France 1998, having won all eight of their UEFA qualifying matches without dropping a point.

The gap between the two squads is significant across every department, with Erling Haaland carrying 55 goals from 50 Norway appearances – a frequency without contemporary parallel in senior international football – alongside Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth in a front three that can threaten any defence in this tournament.

Norway sit 31st in the FIFA world rankings against Iraq's 57th, and enter Tuesday's match as clear favourites to take all three points.

Iraq vs Norway: Preview and Form Guide

Iraq's sequence of two wins, two draws and one defeat across their last five outings captures both the strengths and limitations of this squad.

The 2-1 win over Bolivia in Monterrey on 31 March was the defining moment of Iraq's entire qualifying cycle – a result played under extraordinary national pressure that secured the 48th and final place at this tournament, and demonstrated that Arnold's side can deliver in high-stakes situations.

Iraq's 1-1 draw against European champions Spain in pre-tournament preparation provided the most instructive individual performance, with Iraq's defensive organisation absorbing Spanish pressure across the majority of the match – though La Roja's motivation in a friendly setting was naturally not at tournament level.

Their 2-0 defeat to Venezuela in their final warm-up match is a more pressing concern. Iraq failed to score against opposition ranked considerably lower than Norway, and two scoreless outings from the last five games indicate an attack that relies heavily on individual moments from the likes of Aymen Hussein rather than a sustained collective threat.

Norway's recent run of two wins, two defeats and one draw does not convey the scale of their best performance this cycle – the 4-1 win in Italy, an away triumph that demonstrated what this squad is capable of when operating at full capacity.

The raw numbers show both sides equal on wins from their last five games, but the amount of goals scored reflects the genuine quality gap: nine for Norway against four for Iraq, with Norway finding the net in four of those five matches.

Martin Odegaard controls the tempo of Norway's best football. The Arsenal captain operates in the advanced spaces between opposition lines, recycling possession and unlocking defences with a consistency that makes him one of the most influential creative players in Group I.

Nusa offers an entirely different threat on the left flank. At 21 years of age, the RB Leipzig winger has eight goals from 24 senior caps, combining direct running and acceleration with the composure to finish in one-on-one situations.

Sorloth's 26 goals from 72 international appearances rounds out a front three that can attack a low block in multiple ways simultaneously: physicality on the right, Haaland's central movement, and Nusa's pace in behind on the left.

Iraq will almost certainly defend deep and look to threaten on the counter through Hussein and Ali Al-Hamadi, a strategy that held Spain level in a friendly but which requires near-perfect collective defensive execution against this level of attacking quality over 90 minutes at a World Cup.

Team News: Iraq vs Norway

Iraq

Arnold has a fully fit squad with no injury concerns or suspensions ahead of the group opener. Jalal Hassan starts in goal – his 102 caps and captaincy give him an authority that is central to Iraq's defensive structure – behind a back four of Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin) at right-back, Rebin Sulaka (Port) and Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor) as the central partnership, and Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen) at left-back.

Zidane Iqbal is the player with the strongest European profile in Iraq's midfield. The Utrecht midfielder developed through Manchester United's academy before establishing himself in the Netherlands, and his partnership with Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia) in the centre gives Iraq their most technically capable unit in that area. Ibrahim Bayesh and Ali Jasim complete a flat four across midfield.

Aymen Hussein (33 goals from 95 caps) leads the attack and is partnered by Ali Al-Hamadi of Ipswich Town, who will need to hold up play effectively when Iraq look to break from their defensive shape. Mohanad Ali (72 caps, 27 goals) offers significant experience and a proven scoring record as an option from the bench.

With no selection complications, Arnold has been able to focus entirely on tactical preparation – specifically how to manage the threat of Norway's front three while remaining capable of creating danger in the moments Iraq win possession.

Norway

Solbakken has his full squad available with no fitness concerns. Orjan Nyland (71 caps, Sevilla) starts in goal behind a back four of Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund) at right-back, Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna) and Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) as the central pairing, and David Moller Wolfe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) at left-back.

The midfield three balances defensive solidity with creative freedom. Sander Berge (Fulham) and Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica) provide the physicality and pressing intensity that allows Odegaard to push forward without leaving Norway vulnerable behind him. Odegaard's ability to find space and pick out runners between the lines is the primary mechanism through which Norway generate their best attacking opportunities.

The front three of Haaland (Manchester City), Nusa (RB Leipzig) and Sorloth (Atletico Madrid) represents a formidable individual quality level across all three positions. Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace, six goals in 28 caps) is the primary forward option from the bench, with Solbakken likely to rotate if Norway establish a comfortable lead ahead of the fixtures against Senegal and France.

Iraq vs Norway – Predicted XIs

Predicted XI – Iraq (4-4-2): J Hassan – H Ali, R Sulaka, Z Tahseen, M Doski – I Bayesh, A Al-Ammari, Z Iqbal, A Jasim – A Hussein, A Al-Hamadi

Predicted XI – Norway (4-3-3): O Nyland – J Ryerson, K Ajer, T Heggem, D Moller Wolfe – F Aursnes, S Berge, M Odegaard – A Sorloth, E Haaland, A Nusa

Head-to-Head: Iraq vs Norway

Iraq and Norway have no previous senior international meeting on record, and Tuesday's fixture at Boston Stadium represents the first occasion these two nations have faced each other.

Norway's standout result in qualifying was their 4-1 win in Italy – as emphatic a performance as any team has produced on the road to this summer's tournament. Iraq's equivalent high point is the 1-1 draw against European champions Spain in preparation, a result that demonstrated defensive discipline but came against opponents with minimal competitive motivation in a friendly setting.

Iraq's most recent outing – a 2-0 defeat to Venezuela – is the more pressing data point ahead of Tuesday, raising questions about their attacking output.

Both nations have previous World Cup experience: Iraq appeared at Mexico 1986 and lost all three group games, while Norway reached the round of 16 at France 1998 before losing to Italy.

Our Iraq vs Norway Prediction and Tips

Norway are the stronger side on paper, and while Iraq have the defensive organisation to stay compact and make them work for their goals, the combination of Haaland's movement, Nusa's pace and Odegaard's creative range creates problems that the Lions of Mesopotamia have not previously faced at this level.

The combined market of Norway to win with over 1.5 goals gives those backing the favourites a more specific and better-value entry point than the straight result alone. For a full comparison of odds and markets across UK-licensed bookmakers, see our football betting guide.