Six days after absorbing a 0-2 home defeat to Venezuela in a final pre-tournament friendly, Iraq walk into Gillette Stadium on June 16 for something entirely new: a World Cup group stage match. It is the first time the Lions of Mesopotamia have reached this stage of the competition, and coach Graham Arnold’s side face a Norway team built around two of Europe’s most recognizable names. The gap in pedigree is real, but Iraq earned their place through a qualifying run that included a playoff win over Bolivia, and they will not be content with simply showing up.
What’s at stake
This is Group Stage matchday 1, meaning every point matters from the first whistle. For Iraq, a first-ever World Cup group stage win would be a historic milestone for the program. For Norway, who qualified through European qualifying and memorably beat Italy 4-1 away in November 2025, this opener represents a chance to establish early control of the group and ease pressure on the fixtures that follow.
A Norway win here would put them in the driver’s seat heading into their remaining group games and validate the expectations placed on a squad containing Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. A stumble, on the other hand, would tighten the group immediately. Iraq, meanwhile, know that a positive result against a higher-ranked opponent in a tournament opener can shift the psychological dynamic for the entire group stage.
How they got here
Iraq come in with a mixed five-game run: a loss to Venezuela (0-2), a draw with Spain (1-1), a win over Andorra (1-0), a playoff win over Bolivia (2-1), and a loss to Jordan in the Arab Cup (0-1). The Venezuela result was the most recent, and conceding twice without reply at home is not the ideal final note before a World Cup opener. Arnold’s side have shown they can grind out results, but their defensive solidity has been inconsistent. Norway arrive on the back of a 1-1 draw with Morocco, a 3-1 win over Sweden, a 0-0 draw with Switzerland, a 1-2 loss to the Netherlands, and that standout 4-1 away win over Italy in European qualifying. Their form over five games reads W-D-L-D-W depending on direction, and they have shown both offensive quality and occasional defensive vulnerability.
Norway have no listed league position in the context of this World Cup bracket since both sides enter fresh. Iraq qualified through the intercontinental playoffs; Norway came through UEFA qualifying. Neither side has met the other before, making this a genuinely blank head-to-head record.
Key battle to watch
The central question is whether Iraq’s defensive block can contain Norway’s forward line for long enough to make the game competitive. Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth offer Norway two physically imposing striking options, while Oscar Bobb and Antonio Nusa can create width and carry the ball in transition. Iraq will almost certainly look to sit deep, limit space, and threaten on the counter, which is where players like Ali Al Hamadi and Zidane Iqbal could become relevant. If Norway’s attacking transitions are fast and direct, Iraq’s defensive shape will be tested early and often. The match could hinge on whether Iraq can stay organized through the first 30 minutes before Norway find their rhythm.
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Our Prediction
Norway carry the weight of expectation here, and their squad depth and familiarity with high-stakes European football gives them a clear edge. Iraq are capable of making this uncomfortable early on, particularly if they defend compactly and absorb pressure, but Norway’s forward resources should eventually prove decisive. Expect Norway to take control of the match, though Iraq have enough structure under Arnold to keep this from becoming a rout.