Iraq vs Norway Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Iraq are back at a FIFA World Cup as they kick off their campaign against one of the most intriguing teams and squads, Norway, in Group I.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Iraq preview: A tough tournament awaits
Under the management of former Australia boss Graham Arnold, Iraq went about qualification the hard way - eventually making it through the Inter-Confederation Play-off against Bolivia, having gone behind to the South Americans.
The Iraqis have some reasonable pedigree in their squad, particularly in attack with Aymen Hossein and Ali Al Hamadi, but they have been drawn into what could easily be described as this summer's so-called 'group of death'.
Iraq come into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Venezuela in their most recent pre-tournament friendly against Venezuela, a few days after what is a famous 1-1 draw with Spain. Their pre-tournament preparation began with a narrow 1-0 defeat of Andorra.
Norway preview: Impressive Norwegians
One of those teams that are contributing to that 'group of death' tag is Norway. Back at a major tournament for the first time since 1998, the Norwegians have an excellent squad that goes a lot deeper than the obvious names of Martin Odegaard and Erling Braut Haaland.
In qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026, Norway were dominant as they won every game in their group, including two real thumpings of four-time world champions Italy, winning 3-0 in Oslo and then 4-1 away from home.
Stale Solbakken and his Norwegians began their pre-tournament preparation with a 3-1 defeat of fellow Scandinavians, Sweden, before then sharing a 1-1 draw with a strong Morocco side last week.
Iraq team news: No new injuries
In the aftermath of their poor performance and 2-0 defeat to the Venezuelans, Graham Arnold was happy with the fact that the squad came through unscathed in terms of injuries and commented about that being a major positive.
Iraq will want to replicate their solid performance from the clash with Norway and so keeping the eleven as close to that as possible is to be expected with Aymen Hussein likely partnering Ali Al Hamadi up-front.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Basil; Ali, Tahseen, Younus, Doski; Amyn, Iqbal, Al Ammari, Bayesh; Hussein, Al Hamadi
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Norway team news: Seemingly fully fit
At the time of writing, Norway head into their opener against Iraq with what appears to be a fully fit and available squad. They will be expected to play a 4-3-3/4-4-2 hybrid system with Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard sharing the right flank in attack, with the latter shrugging off any injury concerns in the build-up.
Fredrik Aursnes coming out of international retirement has bolstered the Norwegian midfield alongside Fulham's Sander Berge. Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson will be key in both defence and attack at right-back, while there is a debate about who will partner Kristoffer Ajer at centre-back, with Torbjorn Heggem likely to get the nod over Leo Ostigard.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa
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Iraq’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Munaf Younus ($3.5m) – Defender
Zidane Iqbal ($5.6m) – Midfielder
Aymen Hussein ($5.3m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Aymen Hussein
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Aymen Hussein
Free kicks: Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim
Corners: Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim
Norway’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Julian Ryerson ($4.2m) – Defender
Martin Odegaard ($7.7m) – Midfielder
Erling Haaland ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Erling Haaland
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Erling Haaland
Free kicks: Martin Odegaard
Corners: Martin Odegaard, Julian Ryerson
Key stats
- Iraq are competing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years, with their only appearance to date having been at Mexico 1986.
- Iraq head coach Graham Arnold led Australia into the round of 16 at Qatar 2022.
- Norway are gracing the FIFA World Cup for a fourth time, having previously featured at the editions held in 1938, 1994 and 1998.
- Norway’s success in qualifying was spearheaded by Erling Haaland, who emerged as the leading scorer across all confederations with 16 goals. His tally included a stunning five-goal performance in Norway’s comprehensive 11-1 victory over Moldova on 9 September 2025.
- In their last tournament campaign, at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, the Norwegians went unbeaten in the group stage, earning back-to-back draws with Morocco and Scotland before enjoying an unforgettable 2-1 victory over Brazil. Their adventure came to an end at the round of 16 stage following a 1-0 defeat to Italy.
- Remarkably, all three of Norway’s World Cup defeats have come against Italy, each by a one-goal margin: 2-1 in extra time in the opening round in 1938, 1-0 in the group stage of the 1994 edition and 1-0 again in the last 16 at the 1998 tournament.
- Stale Solbakken becomes the first person to appear for Norway at the FIFA World Cup as both player and head coach; he played at their last finals participation in 1998.
- At 35 years 279 days, Orjan Nyland could become the oldest player to make a FIFA World Cup appearance for Norway, surpassing Henry Johansen, who was 33 years 319 days when he faced Italy on 05/06/1938.
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Iraq vs Norway prediction
Norway will believe they can go deep into this tournament, under the management of former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Stale Solbakken. The Scandinavians have an opportunity to make an early statement against one of the poorest qualified teams in the tournament and a comfortable Norway victory is to be expected at the Gillette Stadium in Boston. Iraq showed some solidity against Spain a week or so ago and their victory against European minnows Andorra, by just a goal to nil, is perhaps another example of the approach that the Iraqis will take here. Despite the belief they can and plan to be obdurate, Norway head into the summer looking very strong and they shouldn't have too many issues.
Iraq vs Norway betting tip: Norway to win with with -1 handicap
