2026 World Cup: Iraq vs Norway, Landslaget determines the direction of the game

JAKARTA - Iraq will begin their adventure in the 2026 World Cup by facing Norway in the opening match of Group I at the Boston Stadium, United States, Wednesday, June 17, 2026 early morning WIB. This match has the potential to be the initial determinant of competition in the group which is also inhabited by France and Senegal, two teams that are expected to be the main competitors for tickets to the knockout stage.

For both countries, three points in the first match have a very important meaning. With the tournament format that allows the best third-ranked team to advance to the next phase, every point in the group stage is very valuable. However, given the strength of France and Senegal, the Iraq vs Norway match is seen as the best opportunity for both teams to secure victory.

Iraq came to North America with the status of one of the interesting stories at the 2026 World Cup. The team nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia is back in the final round for the first time since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. This is also their second appearance in the history of participating in the world's largest football tournament.

Iraq's journey to the World Cup has not been smooth. The defeat of Palestine in the Asian zone qualifiers had triggered a major change in the coach's seat. The federation then appointed Graham Arnold in May 2025 to replace Jesus Casas. The decision proved to be right after Arnold successfully led Iraq through several qualifying stages to ensure a ticket to the final round through the inter-federation play-off.

The 2-1 victory over Bolivia last March was a historic moment that ended Iraq's long wait for four decades. However, the challenges that await at the World Cup are certainly much more difficult.

In the three warm-up matches ahead of the tournament, Iraq showed quite diverse performances. They beat Andorra 1-0, held Spain 1-1, before losing 0-2 to Venezuela. The results illustrate the character of Arnold's team, which is quite disciplined in defending, but still has limitations in goal productivity.

Meanwhile, Norway comes with high confidence after undergoing one of the best qualifying campaigns in their history. The team coached by Stale Solbakken swept eight European zone qualifying matches with a perfect victory and collected all 24 points available.

Landslaget was very productive by scoring 37 goals and only conceding five times throughout the qualifiers. This record is one of the best among all participants in the 2026 World Cup.

The success of qualifying for the final round also ended Norway's long wait, who last appeared at the World Cup in the 1998 edition in France. At that time they managed to advance to the round of 16 before being eliminated by Italy.

Even though their trial match results are not always consistent, Norway still shows the quality that makes them the favorites in this match. They beat Sweden 3-1, drew against Morocco and Switzerland, and only lost narrowly to the Netherlands.

Statistically, Norway has a fairly striking advantage over Iraq. FIFA ranks Norway 31st in the world, while Iraq is in 57th place. The 26-point difference reflects the difference in the quality of the squad, the depth of the players, and the experience of facing elite European opponents.

This match is also the first meeting in history between the two countries. There is no record of official or friendly matches before that brought Iraq and Norway together at the senior level.

Haaland Productive

Norway's main highlight is certainly Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker will make his debut at the World Cup with 55 goals from 50 international appearances with his country. These statistics make him one of the most productive strikers in international football today.

Besides Haaland, Norway still has Martin Odegaard as the engine of the game in the midfield. The Arsenal captain is the main creator who is tasked with setting the tempo of the game while supplying the ball to the front line. The presence of Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa further adds variety to the Scandinavian team's attack.

In the Iraqi camp, great hopes rest on Aymen Hussein. The 29-year-old striker is the main goal machine of the Mesopotamian Lions with a collection of more than 30 international goals. Support from Ali Al-Hamadi, Ibrahim Bayesh, and creative midfielder Zidane Iqbal will be very decisive in Iraq's ability to create opportunities.

The good news for both coaches is the absence of players who must be absent due to injury or suspension. Graham Arnold and Stale Solbakken are expected to field their best composition in this opening match.

In terms of tactics, Iraq is likely to rely on a pragmatic approach with a low defensive block and quick counterattacks. The strategy was successful when they held Spain in a friendly match. However, maintaining concentration for 90 minutes against the Norwegian attack line led by Haaland is a challenge in itself.

On the other hand, Norway is expected to dominate possession of the ball. Odegaard will be the main link between the midfield and the front line, while Haaland, Nusa, and Sorloth will continue to pressure the opponent's defense with a combination of speed, physical strength, and sharp finishing.

Norway entered this match with a much more convincing capital. They have higher individual quality in almost every line, the experience of players who play in elite European leagues, and an impressive goal productivity during the qualifiers.

Norway's main strength lies in the attacking line which is inhabited by Haaland, Sorloth, and Nusa. The support of Odegaard's creativity makes them able to create opportunities from various situations. In addition, their defense is also quite solid with only conceding five goals during the qualifiers.

On the other hand, Iraq has a fairly disciplined defense organization and high fighting spirit. The success of holding Spain shows that they are able to withstand the pressure of a stronger opponent. However, goal productivity is still the main weakness of the team coached by Graham Arnold.

If Iraq is able to maintain discipline and effectively utilize counterattacks, they have the opportunity to provide resistance. However, the quality of the Norwegian individuals, especially in the front line, seems to be the deciding factor in this match.

Norway is expected to dominate possession of the ball from the start of the match, while Iraq waits for opportunities through quick transitions. If Haaland gets enough space, the Iraqi defense will face a very difficult night.

VOI score prediction: Iraq 0-2 Norway.

Iraq

Jalal Hassan; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Rebin Sulaka, Merchas Doski; Amir Al-Ammari, Zidane Iqbal; Ibrahim Bayesh, Ali Jasim, Ali Al-Hamadi; Aymen Hussein.

Norway

Orjan Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Fredrik Aursnes; Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa.

2026 World Cup Group I

Iraq vs Norway

Boston Stadium, Boston

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Kick-off 02.00 WIB