Iraq faces Norway at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts in their opening Group I clash of the 2026 World Cup.
Norway is playing in its first World Cup since 1998, powered by a new "golden generation" led by Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard.
Iraq is back in the tournament, after one of the longest and most demanding qualification journeys in recent memory (a record-breaking 21 matches), for the first time since 1986.
The match will also be Erling Haaland’s long-awaited World Cup debut, with Norway coming into the tournament as one of the popular dark-horse picks after a great qualifying journey.
Iraq vs. Norway World Cup Lineups
Iraq
- Goalkeeper: Hassan
- Ali, Tahseen, Sulaka, Doski
- Al-Ammari, Ismail, Hachem
- Bayesh, Jasim, Al-Hamadi
- Hussein
Norway
- Goalkeeper: Nyland
- Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe
- Berge, Aursnes, Ødegaard
- Nusa, Haaland, Sørloth
How to Watch Iraq vs. Norway, TV & Live Streaming
- Iraq: beIN Sports MAX 1 Arabia, beIN Sports MAX 3 Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
- Norway: TV 2 Direkte, TV 2 Play
- United States: FOX Network, Telemundo, fuboTV, FOX One
- Middle East / North Africa: beIN Sports MAX Arabia channels
- Sweden: SVT 1, SVT Play, Discovery+
- Denmark: DR 1, dr.dk
- Finland: YLE TV2, YLE Areena
- Iceland: RÚV 2
- Germany: MagentaTV, ORF eins (selected feeds)
- France: M6, beIN Sports 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
- United Kingdom & Ireland: BBC One, BBC iPlayer, RTE 2, BBC Sport Website
- Nigeria: SuperSport Football Plus Nigeria, Sporty TV, NTA Sports 24
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. ET (USA, 11 p.m. BST (United Kingdom), 12 a.m. CEST (Norway), and 1 a.m. Iraq Time.
Iraq vs. Norway Predicted Score
Norway is the clear favorite thanks to Haaland and Ødegaard and a dominant qualifying campaign, but Iraq’s defensive discipline and counterattacking threat could make this a tricky opener.
However, sustaining defensive pressure for 90 minutes will be a challenge.
Prediction: Norway 2-0 Iraq.
