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Iraq is set to face Norway in a Group I World Cup clash, a group that also includes France and Senegal. The match kicks off at 1 AM in Boston.
The Scandinavians possess the potential to make a significant impact at the World Cup. They qualified with ease and are highly motivated, boasting an excellent squad. This marks their first World Cup appearance of the 21st century. Naturally, they will heavily rely on Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland, but he is supported by many other quality players, including Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard.
During the qualifiers, Norway secured eight wins from eight matches, scoring 37 goals. While their subsequent friendly performances were less convincing, manager Ståle Solbakken used these games to experiment with different tactics. Norway lost to the Netherlands and drew with Switzerland in March, then recorded a win against Sweden and a draw with Morocco in early June.
Iraq was the last team to secure its spot at the World Cup, needing 21 matches to achieve qualification. This will be their first appearance since 1986, where they lost all three group stage matches. The Asian side's coach, Graham Arnold, previously guided Australia to the Round of 16 in Qatar in 2022.
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