Iraq vs Norway Tips, Predictions & Latest Odds
Lewis Watson 
Scott McGlynn
No nation travelled a longer road to the World Cup than the Iraq national football team.
Their qualification campaign was the most demanding of any nation, both in terms of mileage covered and matches played. Iraq required 21 games across multiple rounds of Asian qualifying and intercontinental play-offs to finally punch their ticket to the tournament — more than any other team in the field.
The journey began back in 2023 and stretched into 2026. The first of those came in November, when Iraq edged past the United Arab Emirates in a qualification play-off. A few months later, they cleared the final obstacle, defeating Bolivia in Mexico 2-1.
A handy draw against Spain and a 1-0 win over minnows Andorra in their warm-up friendlies sent them into the World Cup in good spirits, before a loss to Venezuela in Illinois took a bit of wind out of their sails before their opening Group I clash.
Norway are fancied as a dark horse at the World Cup by many.
Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are household names and have enough talent between them to fire Norway to a successful tournament.
Norway won all eight of their qualifiers, scoring 37 goals and conceding just five times, in the process knocking Italy into the play-offs and eventual elimination. Haaland scored 16 of those goals, twice as many as any other player in European qualification.
With Senegal and France sharing their group, a win in this opener for Iraq and Norway is vital. Who will take it?
Let’s take a look at the best betting for Tuesday’s clash in Foxborough:
Iraq vs Norway Tips
Here are our top three World Cup betting tips and the best free bets ahead of this game.
Tip 1: Norway to win & both teams to score
Norway shouldn’t have too many issues getting past Iraq in this opener.
They’ve got more than enough firepower to keep the underdogs penned in their own half for a majority of this tie, but their defence isn’t exactly water tight.
They’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last seven games, and despite bagging 11 goals against 159th-ranked Moldova, they still leaked one in an 11-1 win.
Norway to win and both teams to score at 23/10 looks good with bet365.
Tip 2: Merchas Doski to be shown a card
Merchas Doski plays left back for Iraq and was booked three times for his nation in qualifying for this World Cup.
It might not sound like a lot, but add another six for his Czech club side Plzen, and there’s a chance he could fancy a challenge against Norway’s Alexander Sorloth on the right hand side of the pitch.
He’s 29/10 with William Hill to receive a card in this opener.
Tip 3: Erling Haaland to score a hat-trick
He couldn’t could he?
If there was anyone to score three in a game at the World Cup, then you’d do well to argue the case for anyone other than goal-machine Erling Haaland.
His 16 in qualifying can be added to his 27 in the Premier League to argue the case for the Manchester City striker to fill his boots at the World Cup.
Iraq will likely be the worst team he plays against, so 11/1 for him to fill his boots early looks good.
Other World Cup Offers
Alongside our Iraq vs Norway predictions and betting tips, you can also find the latest prices from the top World Cup betting sites on several games.
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