World Cup 2026: Iraq vs Norway Tips, Odds & Prediction

* Odds from Betway, correct at time of writing.

Iraq open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, with kickoff at 00:00 CAT on Wednesday, June 17. They are tournament debutants under Graham Arnold and will look to defend deep and frustrate one of the form attacks in world football in Norway. But that will not be an easy task; Norway arrive on the back of a perfect qualifying run and bring the firepower of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard to their first World Cup since 1998. For all our World Cup betting tips, head to our dedicated section.

Iraq

Iraq are making their first ever World Cup appearance and from my point of view Graham Arnold will set his hard-working side up to defend in numbers and limit damage. Captain and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan will be busy, while striker Aymen Hussein, the country's second highest scorer of all time, carries their main threat on the break. The Lions of Mesopotamia rely on a disciplined collective rather than individual stars, and staying compact will be the priority. I expect Iraq to sit deep and try to keep the scoreline respectable.

Predicted Lineup: Hassan; H. Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Amyn, Al-Ammari, Sher, Bayesh; Al-Hamadi, Hussein.

Norway

Norway are heavy favourites and in my opinion Stale Solbakken's side have the quality to win this comfortably. They won all eight of their qualifiers and scored thirty seven goals in those games, sealing their place with a win away to Italy in which Haaland struck twice. Haaland reaches his first World Cup in the form of his life after sixteen qualifying goals, with Odegaard pulling the strings and Alexander Sorloth offering another aerial threat. I expect Norway to take control early and turn their dominance into goals.

Predicted Lineup: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller-Wolfe; Berge, Thorstvedt, Odegaard; Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth.

Norway have far too much firepower for an Iraq side stepping onto this stage for the first time, and I expect Haaland to be among the goals. Iraq will defend in numbers but the gap in quality is wide. My forecast: Iraq 0 Norway 3.

BTTS: No (1.57)

I am backing BTTS: No and my read on this is that Iraq will sit deep and rarely threaten a Norway side that conceded little in qualifying. The debutants will focus on containment rather than chasing goals at the other end. At 1.57 there is value in this bet with Iraq the team likely failing to score.