2026 World Cup Group I: Iraq vs Norway Preview, Odds and Predictions (June 16)

• When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026. 6:00 PM ET
• Where: Gillette Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• How to Watch: FOX

The 2026 World Cup is underway with the second matchup in Group I getting underway in Boston as Iraq clashes with Norway. These two squads will likely be in direct competition for a qualifying spot in the group, meaning that there will be pressure on both nations on MD1.

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Iraq Stats & Team News

It has been a long time coming when it comes to Iraq returning to the World Cup. They make their way back to the global stage since making their debut back in the 1986 edition in Mexico. The national team pulled off the incredible accomplishment after qualifying through the inter-confederation playoffs, beating out Bolivia by a 2-1 score in Mexico on March 31.

However, Iraq got the short end of the stick as they were drawn into arguably the biggest Group of Death with France, Norway and Senegal. This presents the Iraqis as the biggest underdog in Group I, indicating they will have to dig deep to pull off the biggest upsets for the ages. Aymen Hussein and Mohanad Ali stand out as the star strikers, combining for 60 international goals going into the World Cup.

Likely Lineup:

(4-4-2) Fadhil (GK); Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski; Bayesh, Al-Ammari, Iqbal, Farji; Jasim, Al-Hamadi

Norway Stats & Team News

Similar to Iraq, Norway has gone through a long absence from the World Cup. They finally make their return to the global tournament for the first time since 1998 after dominating in their UEFA qualifying group. This marks their fourth appearance in the tournament, standing out as a team that can make a deep run.

Norway excelled throughout its qualifiers, scoring 37 goals while conceding just five times. This included matches against Italy and Israel, showing how the Norwegians locked in on both sides of the ball. Erling Haaland shines as a force to be reckoned with, torching opponents as one of the best players in the world. He has struck the net 55 times in 50 caps, having Alexander Sorloth assist him with 26 goals.

Likely Lineup:

(4-3-3) Nyland (GK); Moller Wolfe, Heggem, Ajer, Ryerson; Aursnes, Berge, Odegaard; Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth

Head-to-Head Stats

• This is the first meeting between Iraq and Norway.
• This will be the first competitive meeting between the nations.

Iraq vs. Norway World Cup Picks

Both teams will look forward to performing well in their first World Cup game in decades. Iraq hopes to persevere in the Group of Death, while Norway looks to bloom as a title contender. The Iraqis will need to put their best effort defensively; otherwise, Erling Haaland will put on a show as the Norwegians look to assert themselves on the attack. It would be safe to believe that Norway takes this one by a 3-1 score.