Iraq face Norway in their first Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Iraq are making their second appearance at the World Cup after they debuted in the 1986 edition, whilst Norway are featuring for the first time since 1998.
Team News
Iraq have no fresh injury concerns with a full squad available for selection.
Norway too have no fresh injury concerns with a full squad available for selection.
When is Kick-Off?
Iraq face Norway at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, USA, on Tuesday 16 June at 6pm EDT (11pm BST), live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Iraq’s first World Cup meeting against Norway.
- Norway are facing a team from Asian Football Confederation for the first time at a World Cup.
- Iraq have kept one clean sheet in 2026 (W2, D1, L1).
- Norway have won one of four matches in 2026 (W1, D2, L1).
Prediction
40 years on from their first World Cup, Iraq already look like Group I’s whipping boys on paper because of their inexperience but they can’t be underestimated with players like Ali Al-Hamadi and Mohaned Ali up top, which certainly showed in their firepower in the qualification phase.
Norway though are one of the group favourites and with tricky tests against Senegal and France to come, this is a huge opportunity for them to lay down a marker with Erling Haaland expected to be a handful if he can bring his club form onto the international stage.
Although it would be nice to see Iraq put up some fight, I just can’t see Norway losing this if they turn up with the right attitude from the get-go.
Prediction: Iraq 0-3 Norway
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