World Cup 2026 / Schedule / IRQ v NOR
Group I · Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Iraq vs Norway 
The pick
17% IRQ26% Draw57% NOR
Win, draw, and loss probabilities and expected goals are from our team-strength model. Public consensus from 2 sources: Forebet (model), Dimers (model).
Head to head
Expected shapes: Iraq 4-2-3-1, Norway 4-3-3.
Ruled out: IRQ — Ahmed Yahya
Iraqvs
Norway
Model rating
FIFA ranking
Title odds
Squad value (top 26)
Players in top-5 leagues
Avg age (XI) · younger left
Squad strength by line (EA FC 26 ratings)
IRQNOR
Top players
IraqMerchas Doski
68
PAC75
SHO54
PAS65
DRI71
DEF62
PHY62
Zidane Iqbal
68
PAC64
SHO60
PAS64
DRI73
DEF63
PHY62
Technical
Ibrahim Bayesh
68
PAC79
SHO67
PAS60
DRI69
DEF58
PHY75
NorwayErling Haaland
90
PAC86
SHO91
PAS70
DRI80
DEF45
PHY88
Low Driven Shot ★AcrobaticChip ShotEnforcer
Martin Odegaard
87
PAC68
SHO79
PAS88
DRI87
DEF67
PHY65
Incisive Pass ★First TouchInventivePinged Pass
Alexander Sorloth
84
PAC77
SHO82
PAS71
DRI76
DEF36
PHY85
EnforcerGamechangerLow Driven ShotPower Shot
Key players to watch
ST Norway
NorwayErling Haaland
90
PAC86
SHO91
PAS70
DRI80
DEF45
PHY88
Low Driven Shot ★AcrobaticChip ShotEnforcer
CM Norway
NorwayMartin Odegaard
87
PAC68
SHO79
PAS88
DRI87
DEF67
PHY65
Incisive Pass ★First TouchInventivePinged Pass
ST Norway
NorwayAlexander Sorloth
84
PAC77
SHO82
PAS71
DRI76
DEF36
PHY85
EnforcerGamechangerLow Driven ShotPower Shot
LB Iraq
IraqMerchas Doski
68
PAC75
SHO54
PAS65
DRI71
DEF62
PHY62
Storylines
Heeeere's Haaland! Norway's terminator Erling out to make up for lost time on World Cup debut
Erling Haaland makes his long-awaited World Cup debut after scoring 16 goals in qualifying, as Norway end a 28-year absence stretching back to 1998.
Goal.com · 2026-06-05
Iraq vs Norway preview: Solbakken's side bring strong form into Group I
Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 as heavy underdogs against a Norway side that won all eight qualifiers.
Forebet · 2026-06-08
Player ratings are EA Sports FC 26 attributes, used here as a consistent, public proxy for player quality. Squad-level comparisons cover the players we could rate; coverage varies by team.