Iraq vs Norway, Worldcup 2026 GROUP STAGE
Overview
Match Preview
Match Details
- Referee Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
- Assistant 1 Boris Ditsoga (Gabon)
- Assistant 2 Amos Abeigne (Gabon)
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Qatar | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Brazil | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Morocco | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Scotland | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Haiti | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Australia | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Paraguay | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Germany | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Ecuador | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Curacao | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | Japan | 3 | 5 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Belgium | 3 | 5 |
| 26 | Egypt | 3 | 5 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 3 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | Spain | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 |
| 33 | France | 3 | 9 |
| 34 | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 35 | Senegal | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Iraq | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Argentina | 3 | 9 |
| 38 | Austria | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Algeria | 3 | 4 |
| 40 | Jordan | 3 | 0 |
| 41 | Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Congo DR | 3 | 4 |
| 44 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | England | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Croatia | 3 | 6 |
| 47 | Ghana | 3 | 4 |
| 48 | Panama | 3 | 0 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
Season Stats
| Iraq | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| #36 | Position | #34 |
| 0 | Points | 6 |
| 3 | Played | 3 |
| 0 / 0 / 3 | W / D / L | 2 / 0 / 1 |
| 1 | Scored | 8 |
| 12 | Conceded | 7 |
| -11 | GD | +1 |
| 0.00 | PPG | 2.00 |
| 0% | Win % | 67% |
Key Stats
100%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
100%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
0%
Clean Sheets
Iraq this season
Iraq this season
0%
Clean Sheets
Norway this season
Norway this season
Iraq are 36th (0 pts). Norway are 34th (6 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Iraq
0-15
–/2
16-30
–/1
31-45
1/1
46-60
–/3
61-75
–/2
76+
–/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Norway
0-15
–/1
16-30
2/1
31-45
4/3
46-60
2/1
61-75
–/1
76+
4/4
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Norway
| Erling Haaland | 7 G |
Events
Match Events
- 0' The wait is over. Iraq get us underway at Gillette Stadium.
- 5' Kristoffer Ajer has been one of the livelier players on the pitch with 0 goals to his name this season.
- 10' It looks surprising Norway does not make any changes. Martin Odegaard has some obvious troubles when approaching to the goal.
- 15' It looks like no one’s ball. Iraq is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
- 20' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
- 25' While players are taking a pause, let’s have a look at their stats. The teams met 1 times this season with Norway winning 100% of all matches.
- 29' The deadlock is broken! Erling Haaland gets on the scoresheet on 29 minutes.
- 34' Norway has dominated the recent head-to-head record, winning 1 of the last 1 meetings.
- 39' Magnificent from Aymen Hussein! That is 2 goals in 3 appearances — and it could not have come at a better time.
- 43' The deadlock is broken! Erling Haaland gets on the scoresheet on 43 minutes.
- 48' A quiet spell here at Gillette Stadium. Norway seem content sitting deep and soaking up pressure.
- 53' Supporters expect more eagerness from Zaid Tahseen, as he is very good at scoring at Gillette Stadium with 0 goals in the last 0 games.
- 58' Not even hints on scoring a goal over the last 58 minutes.
- 59' The crowd applauds Ali Al-Hamadi as he leaves the pitch. Marko Farji steps in for Iraq.
- 64' A moment of individual brilliance could settle this. Both teams are waiting for that decisive action.
- 69' Iraq are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Norway backline.
- 73' Ahmed Qasem has so much to prove this time. He replaces Ali Jassim El-Aibi on 73 minute.
- 76' A goal from the Norway international Leo Ostigard! He fires home on 76 to make it 1-3!
- 78' The crowd applauds Ibrahim Bayesh as he leaves the pitch. Mohanad Ali steps in for Iraq.
- 81' Norway manager makes another effort to make the tables turned. Patrick Berg is hanging Martin Odegaard on the field on 81 minute.
- 86' A meaty challenge results in booking for Zaid Tahseen on 86.
- Iraq will have plenty to reflect on. Norway were simply the better side today.
Lineups
Iraq Lineups
4-4-2Starting XI
- 12
-
3
Hussein Ali ↓ Mustafa Saadoun 73'
- 23
- 5
- 4
- 16
-
8
Ibrahim Bayesh ↓ Mohanad Ali 78'
-
24
Zaid Ismail ↓ Zidane Iqbal 59'
-
9
Ali Al-Hamadi ↓ Marko Farji 59'
- 18
- 17
Bench
- 22
- 1
- 15
- 26
-
25
Mustafa Saadoun ↑ 73'
- 2
- 6
- 7
-
14
Zidane Iqbal ↑ 59'
-
11
Ahmed Qasem ↑ 73'
- 20
- 19
-
10
Mohanad Ali ↑ 78'
-
21
Marko Farji ↑ 59'
- 13
Coach
Graham Arnold
Norway Lineups
4-3-3Starting XI
- 1
- 3
- 17
-
5
David Wolfe ↓ Leo Ostigard 73'
- 26
- 14
- 8
- 20
-
10
Martin Odegaard ↓ Patrick Berg 81'
- 9
-
7
Alexander Sorloth ↓ Oscar Bobb 73'
Bench
- 13
- 12
- 15
- 25
- 24
-
4
Leo Ostigard ↑ 73'
- 16
- 19
-
6
Patrick Berg ↑ 81'
-
22
Oscar Bobb ↑ 73'
- 2
-
18
Kristian Thorstvedt ↑ 73'
- 23
-
21
Andreas Schjelderup ↑ 73'
- 11
Coach
Ståle Solbakken
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 2 |
| Aymen Hussein | 1 |
| Leo Ostigard | 1 |
Head to Head
Iraq Form
Norway Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
4 / 4
0.82
Iraq xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
5
Norway xG
I would bet for:
Over 2.5 goals 90% + Norway to win 76%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Norway win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 5.82
Actual: Yes — both scored
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 99% |
|
1% |
| ± 1.5 | 97% |
|
3% |
| ± 2.5 | 90% |
|
10% |
| ± 3.5 | 78% |
|
22% |
| ± 4.5 | 62% |
|
38% |
Double Chance
Iraq or Draw
24%
Draw or Norway
88%
Iraq or Norway
88%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Norway win at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
0 – 4
8.9%
0 – 5
8.6%
0 – 3
7.4%
0 – 6
7.1%
1 – 4
Actual
1 – 5
7%
1 – 3
5.8%
1 – 6
5.8%
0 – 7
5.1%
0 – 2
4.8%
1 – 7
4.2%
1 – 2
3.7%
Asian Handicap — Iraq
| Handicap | Iraq covers | Push | Norway covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 0% | — | 100% |
| -2 | 0% | — | 99% |
| -1.5 | 1% | — | 99% |
| -1 | 1% | 1% | 98% |
| -0.5 | 2% | — | 98% |
| +0.5 | 7% | — | 93% |
| +1 | 7% | 9% | 84% |
| +1.5 | 16% | — | 84% |
| +2 | 16% | 14% | 70% |
| +2.5 | 30% | — | 70% |
Clean Sheet
Iraq keeps clean sheet
1%
✓
Norway keeps clean sheet
45%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.