Iraq vs. Norway: Can Iraq Stop Haaland on Their World Cup Return?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Arnold’s Structure Meets Solbakken’s Sizzling Attack
When Iraq step out at the SoFi Stadium tonight for their first World Cup appearance in four decades, they will face one of the tournament’s most feared attacking units that has transformed Norway from perennial underachievers into genuine knockout contenders.
As the numbers show in our Iraq vs Norway prediction, the challenge for head coach Graham Arnold is not simply about stopping the rampant Erling Haaland or meticulous Martin Odegaard; it is about trying to disrupt an entire attacking ecosystem.
The Australian tactician has spent months reshaping the Lions of Mesopotamia into a side that understands the value of organisation as much as individual talent, and he has placed huge emphasis on collective responsibility, defensive discipline and tactical cohesion.
The objective for Iraq is straightforward: reduce space, limit high-quality chances and force Norway into uncomfortable areas of the pitch!
Beyond formations and tactical diagrams, reports in the lead-up to this match indicate that Arnold is expected to also place significant emphasis on the psychological and environmental factors that could help his side level the playing field.
It is understood that Iraq’s coaching staff have spent considerable time reinforcing the significance of this occasion, not as a source of pressure, but as a source of motivation, as this clash represents the culmination of a lifelong dream and a first World Cup experience for each of the players.
Additionally, Arnold and co are believed to recognise that the climate in the USA could be a major advantage, given that their Asian qualifying cycle was held in gruelling, high-temperature environments. This has equipped their players with high baseline cardio endurance, which could be a major factor late on.
"Big Impact" Expected From Haaland on World Cup Debut
Norway enter the 2026 World Cup with a squad that many consider their golden generation, and at the forefront of their attack is the Manchester City goal machine, Erling Haaland, who is set to make his World Cup debut in the prime of his footballing career.
The 25-year-old has developed into one of the most lethal strikers in world football and is now expected to dominate on the international stage. As discussed in our 2026 World Cup predictions, his underlying stats back up those expectations, with him now having scored 55 goals in just 50 appearances for his country.
Haaland was the highest goal scorer in World Cup Qualifying (UEFA) with 16 goals in eight games!
Drillos ended the UEFA qualifiers top of their group with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches. They scored a remarkable 37 goals in that time (averaging 4.6 goals per 90) - the best-ever average for any European nation in a single WC qualifying campaign with more than four games played.
In an interview with the media ahead of his side’s return to football’s grandest stage after almost three decades, Solbakken said that Haaland is poised to make a “very big impact” over the coming month, despite being drawn into a very competitive Group I. The Norway head coach said:
"Hopefully he'll have a very big impact. He's our goalscorer. I think he's the world's best goalscorer. He's physically fit; he was given a little bit of a break towards the end of the season. If you give Erling chances, he has a tendency to score, so hopefully that continues."
Martin Odegaard is another key weapon for the Red, White and Blues. The skipper notched up a UEFA-high seven assists during qualifying, a stat that looks all the more impressive when considering that he only featured in five of their eight qualifiers due to injury.
Aside from their Premier League duo, Norway have plenty of quality elsewhere, with the likes of Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, Jens Petter Hauge, Patrick Berg and Julian Ryerson all fit and ready to make their mark on the international stage.
Iraq: AFC World Cup Qualifiers
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Korea | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 22 |
| 2 | Jordan | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| 3 | Iraq* | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | Oman | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 11 |
| 5 | Palestine | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 10 |
| 6 | Kuwait | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 5 |
*Iraq finished third in their group and qualified for the 2026 World Cup by beating Bolivia 2-1 in the Inter-confederation playoffs.
Norway: UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway* | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 32 | 24 |
| 2 | Italy | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 18 |
| 3 | Israel | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 12 |
| 4 | Estonia | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 21 | −13 | 4 |
| 5 | Moldova | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 32 | −27 | 1 |
*Norway qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup by topping their group.
