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Iraq 1–4 Norway
16 Jun · Tue · Gillette Stadium
Our top forecastNorway or draw
✓ CORRECT

Match summary

Norway swept Iraq aside 4-1 at Gillette Stadium, with an Erling Haaland brace (29', 43') and a Leo Ostigard header (76') doing the damage. Aymen Hussein levelled briefly for Iraq (39') before turning into his own net late on (90+6'). Norway return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence in emphatic style. Our forecast — Norway or draw — landed, with the Norwegians running out comfortable winners.

Group I standings

#TeamPWDLGDPts
1France2200+56
2Norway2200+46
3Senegal2002-30
4Iraq2002-60
Iraq: next match →Norway: next match →
What we predicted before the match
🌍 FIFA World Cup · World

Iraq – Norway Prediction and Betting Tips

Iraq national football team logo
Iraq
L D W W W
vs
18:00
16 Jun · Tue
Norway national football team logo
Norway
D W D L
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16 Jun) · 22:00 UTC Venue: Gillette Stadium Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
Top forecast + 4 supporting tips
5 picks
Top Pick
X2 Norway or draw 70% confidence
4.00odds

Norway's vastly superior attacking output favours them to avoid defeat against an organised but low-scoring Iraq, making an Iraq win unlikely.

Back this tip
Total Team 2 Over: 0.5 76%
Norway over 0.5 goals
1.05 odds
Total Team 1 Under:1.5 66%
Iraq under 1.5 goals
1.08 odds
Total:Over: 1.5 62%
Over 1.5 goals
1.17 odds
Total:Over: 2.5 50%
Over 2.5 goals
1.59 odds
Iraq mark a long-awaited World Cup return — their first since 1986 — against a Norway side back at the finals for the first time since 1998 and spearheaded by one of the game's most feared attacks. The gap in attacking firepower is considerable, but openers can be cagey and Iraq will defend with discipline and pride. For Norway, the task is to break down a stubborn block and start with authority.

Iraq organised and resilient

Iraq arrive having ground out results on the road to qualification, built on structure and defensive discipline under their head coach. They are hard to break down and pick their moments on the counter, but goals have been at a premium and they lack the consistent scoring depth to trouble the tournament's stronger sides. No major absentees were reported in their selection, and their game plan will revolve around organisation and patience.

Norway dangerous and direct

Norway come in with goals throughout the side, having overwhelmed weaker opponents during a dominant qualifying campaign. Their attack carries genuine star quality and a clinical edge, and they registered freely in their final warm-up matches. There is a minor fitness question over one of their creative players, but the depth of their forward options means the threat remains considerable against a side likely to sit deep.

Prediction: Norway's quality should tell

The teams have never met, leaving form to guide the view. The Iraq versus Norway prediction leans on Norway's vastly superior attacking output against an organised but modest Iraq, so a draw or Norway win carries value rather than backing a runaway scoreline. Around it, Norway look good to register over 0.5, Iraq are tipped to stay under 1.5 given their cautious approach, the match passing over 1.5 reflects Norway's threat, and the total going over 2.5 fits their scoring if they break through.
Iraq — recent matches
10 Jun 2026 Venezuela 0 — 2 L
04 Jun 2026 Spain 1 — 1 D
29 May 2026 Andorra 1 — 0 W
01 Apr 2026 Bolivia 2 — 1 W
18 Nov 2025 United Arab Emirates 2 — 1 W
Norway — recent matches
07 Jun 2026 Morocco 1 — 1 D
01 Jun 2026 Sweden 3 — 1 W
31 Mar 2026 Switzerland 0 — 0 D
27 Mar 2026 Netherlands 1 — 2 L
Limited recent international matches

H2H

These sides have not met at senior level.

Key Players

Iraq
Aymen Hussein ST Al-Wakrah · 50+ caps · 18 G · Captain
Zidane Iqbal CM Utrecht · 10+ caps
Ali Al-Hamadi ST Ipswich · 15+ caps
Jalal Hassan GK Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Norway
Erling Haaland ST Man City · 35+ caps · 35 G
Martin Ødegaard AM Arsenal · 45+ caps · Captain
Alexander Sørloth ST Atlético · 50+ caps · 14 G
Antonio Nusa LW Leipzig · 15+ caps

Injuries

Iraq
None reported
Norway
None reported

Venue · Context

Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Capacity: 65,000
Open-air New England venue; June conditions are usually moderate, taking heat largely out of the equation.
Weather: Mid-June Foxborough: mild, ~20–25°C.

Suspensions

Iraq
None reported
Norway
None reported

Other Group I matches

MD1
France3–1SenegalLANDED
MD2
France3–0IraqLANDEDNorway3–2SenegalLANDED
MD3
SenegalvIraqJun 26 · 19:00 UTCNorwayvFranceJun 26 · 19:00 UTC

Team’s other matches

Iraq
France3–0IraqLANDEDSenegalvIraqJun 26 · 19:00 UTC
Norway
Norway3–2SenegalLANDEDNorwayvFranceJun 26 · 19:00 UTC

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