Erling Haaland is expected to lead Norway’s attack as the side eyes a victorious return to the FIFA World Cup. | Photo Credit: AP

Erling Haaland, a human goal machine, will try to activate his World Cup account right away when Norway plays Iraq on Tuesday, ending the nation’s nearly three-decade hiatus from the top football competition.

Tuesday’s opponent is Iraq, a team that traveled to Boston via a demanding 21-match qualifying campaign that finished with a victory over Bolivia in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico, despite travel disruptions created by the U.S. and Israeli war with neighbouring Iran.

Read the full preview here: Haaland and Co. eye success against Lions of Mesopotamia

Iraq vs Norway head-to-head:

• Total Matches: 0
• Iraq: 0
• Norway: 0
• Draws: 0

Form Guide (Last five Matches):

Iraq: L D W W L

• Iraq 0-2 Venezuela
• Spain 1-1 Iraq
• Iraq 1-0 Andorra
• Iraq 2-1 Bolivia
• Jordan 1-0 Iraq

Norway: D W D L W

• Morocco 1-1 Norway
• Norway 3-1 Sweden
• Norway 0-0 Switzerland
• Netherlands 2-1 Norway
• Italy 1-4 Norway

Iraq vs Norway predicted XI:

Iraq: Hassan; Ali, Tahseen, Sulaka, Doski; Al-Ammari, Iqbal; Bayesh, Jasim, Al-Hamadi; Hussein

Norway: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa

Published on Jun 16, 2026