Iraq vs Norway meet in Group I on Matchday 6 of the 2026 World Cup, kicking off at 6:00 PM ET on June 16 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Norway enter as heavy favorites at -460, having won all eight of their qualifying matches, while Iraq, returning to the World Cup for only the second time in their history, are priced at +1500 to pull off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. The central betting question is how wide the gap truly is between a resurgent Norway side built around Erling Haaland and an Iraq team that defied the odds just to reach North America.
Norway’s qualifying numbers tell an unambiguous story: eight wins from eight, 37 goals scored, five conceded and a goal difference of +32, including a 4-1 win away to Italy in the final match. Iraq’s route was far harder, grinding through the AFC rounds before edging Bolivia 2-1 in the inter-confederation play-off to claim the final spot at the tournament. The odds reflect that gap, with the draw priced at +650 and Norway firm favorites across all major books.
