Iraq vs. Norway / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE coverage of the Iraq vs. Norway match in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, which you can also watch live on JOJ play, kicks off at midnight.

The final match of the opening round in the highly competitive Group I will see Iraq and Norway face off on Tuesday evening. A tactical battle is set to unfold at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, with its importance magnified by the fact that both teams will already know the result of the earlier clash between France and Senegal. In the company of such renowned giants, no one can afford the luxury of dropping points. Any slip-up at the start of the tournament could deal a decisive blow to their hopes of advancing.

The Scandinavians are the clear favorites on paper for this historic first-ever meeting between the two nations. Norway sits 26 places higher than their Asian opponents in the FIFA rankings, and coach Ståle Solbakken has a squad packed with world-class stars. The team, led by captain Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal, sailed through the European qualifiers without a single stumble. In a group that also included a strong Italian side, the Norwegians didn't drop a single point, scoring an impressive 37 goals while conceding only five.

Although their immediate pre-tournament preparations have shown some inconsistency, the playing potential of Solbakken's squad commands immense respect. They are returning to the world stage after a 28-year absence, and their main weapon will be the unstoppable offensive gem from Manchester City, Erling Haaland. He is perfectly complemented in the attack by the prolific Alexander Sørloth and the dynamic young talent Antonio Nusa, while the midfield will be anchored by the creative Ødegaard and the industrious Sander Berge.

However, Iraq is not giving up its underdog role just yet. The Middle Eastern nation endured a dramatic journey to North America. After unexpected setbacks in the Asian zone, Australian coach Graham Arnold took the helm. The experienced strategist managed to consolidate the disjointed team at the right time, successfully navigating the final qualifying stages and definitively sealing their coveted spot in the March inter-continental play-off, where Iraq edged out Bolivia 2-1.

This is an extraordinary milestone for the entire country, as they will be appearing at the World Cup for only the second time in their history, having last experienced the atmosphere of the biggest tournament back in 1986. They proved they are a team to be reckoned with in June when they shocked the world with a valuable 1-1 draw against a strong Spanish side, although they later lost their final warm-up match 2-0 to Venezuela. Arnold's squad will rely heavily on their 35-year-old captain and goalkeeper, Jalal Hassan. The creative spark in midfield is provided by the talented Zidane Iqbal, and the biggest threat to the Norwegian defense will be the robust striker Aymen Hussein.

While the Iraqi team is known for its immense fighting spirit and tenacity, the firepower of Norway's attacking trident should prove to be an unsolvable puzzle for their defense. If Solbakken's men can get off to a strong start and impose their dynamic style of play on their opponents, they should be able to dictate the tempo of the game without much trouble. A straightforward match is expected, in which the European favorites will confirm their quality and secure three crucial points.