Iraq and Norway have been drawn in one of the toughest groups of the World Cup. The two teams will face each other at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on 17 June.
Iraq national football team
The Iraq national football team’s path to the World Cup was long and arduous. A 2-1 victory over Bolivia secured their place in the tournament for the second time. In 1986, they failed to pick up a single point and scored just one goal.
Graham Arnold’s side still look very weak, perhaps one of the outsiders of the entire tournament.
No player in the Iraq squad has scored more goals in international matches than Ayman Hussein (33).
Norway national football team
The Norwegian national team qualified for the 2026 World Cup with ease, despite being drawn in a group that included Italy.
The ‘Vikings’ won all eight of their matches, securing 24 points out of a possible 24. Ståle Solbakken’s side scored 37 goals and conceded just five. The Norwegians last took part in the World Cup in 1998, when they reached the round of 16, where they lost 0–1 to Italy.
Martin Ødegaard, the recent Premier League champion with Arsenal, scored a goal in the second half of Norway’s final friendly and provided seven assists during the qualifying campaign.
Norway can boast a high standard of play, particularly in attack.
Statistics and interesting facts
The Iranian national team has failed to score a single goal against their opponents after the 55th minute in any of their last six matches.
In seven of their last eight matches, the Asian side has earned fewer than four corners. This fact can be taken into account when making your selection.
In six of Norway’s last seven matches, both teams have scored.
Six of the seven goals scored by Norway at World Cups have been scored after half-time.
Following their most recent friendlies, no injury news has been reported for either side.
Iraq v Norway preview
The Iraqi national team are clear underdogs. The Asian side are unlikely to create much of a threat in attack.
The Norwegians look very strong, particularly in attack. The Scandinavians have shown just how effectively they can create scoring opportunities.
As both teams have lacked experience at World Cups recently, the match could prove to be a tense affair. Therefore, it is worth considering the option of under 2.5 goals.
Iraq and Norway have been drawn in one of the toughest groups at the World Cup. The two teams will face each other in Foxborough on 17 June
