Published Jun 9, 5:38am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 9, 5:38am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 9, 5:38am ET
The second matchup in Group I at the FIFA World Cup is set for Foxborough, as Norway and Iraq collide.
Both nations will likely see this fixture as a must-win encounter, with both likely to be hoping for a runner-up finish behind France.
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|---|---|
| Iraq | +1250 |
| DRAW | +615 |
| Norway | -460 |
This summer represents a first return to the World Cup for Iraq since 1986. Graham Arnold masterminded an excellent qualification campaign, as the team won 13 of their 21 fixtures.
However, their lack of experience at the highest level of soccer is a notable concern. Iraq upset the odds to book their spot at the World Cup, beating Bolivia in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs in late March.
Their form since has also been reliable, winning two of their last three, and also playing out a very respectable draw against Spain.
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Norway will also be making their return to the global stage this summer, as they will be playing in their first World Cup since 1998.
Ståle Solbakken’s side caught the eye in qualifying, winning all eight of their fixtures in a group stage campaign that also included Italy. Norway scored an incredible 37 goals, with a big reason for their offensive threat coming due to the prowess of Erling Haaland.
The striking superstar has scored 17 goals in his last eleven appearances at international level. However, Norway will need to put some underwhelming results in 2026 behind them after failing to win in three of their last four fixtures.
This is likely to be a closer encounter than many think, as Iraq will play in their preferred defensive style. Despite that, we still fully expect Norway to win their first match at the World Cup since 1998, with Haaland likely to be the scorer.
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Pick
Norway (-460)
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