Iraq and Norway get their 2026 World Cup campaigns underway when they meet in Group I on Tuesday night (11pm BST), and we’ve picked out a 36/1 Bet Builder ahead of the contest at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
After analysing the latest form, underlying numbers and player trends, we’ve put together a four-leg Bet Builder that offers plenty of value for the World Cup clash.
The combined selection comes in at 36/1 with Betfair. Below, we break down each leg of the bet and explain why it could prove a winner on the night.
Erling Haaland to score
Erling Haaland heads into the World Cup fresh from winning the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time in four years, scoring 27 goals in 35 games. The goal-machine’s record for his country is unsurprisingly incredible with a whopping 55 goals in 50 games, including a world-high 16 goals in qualification, which was double the tallies of Harry Kane and Lionel Messi.
With the likes of Martin Odegaard and Julian Ryerson – more on him in a moment – providing the ammunition, Haaland is sure to get plenty of chances to make his mark in front of goal in his very first World Cup game.
Norway to win and both teams to score
Norway are a short price at 1/6 to win their first World Cup match since France 1998, but look far more backable at 5/2 to win and for both teams to score.
Not only did they fly through qualifying with eight wins from eight games, but they hammered home an astonishing 37 goals in the process.
Norway’s defence is by no means rock-solid though, conceding in five of their last six games, while Iraq recently held Spain to a 1-1 draw in a friendly.
Julian Ryerson to assist
Julian Ryerson looks a great pick in the anytime assists market given his form for club and country.
The right-back carved out four assists in eight qualification games for Norway and racked up a superb 15 assists for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga last season; second only to Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise in the German top-flight.
Merchas Doski to be carded
Into the cards market we go with Iraq left-back Merchas Doski, who is likely to be in for a busy night up against the likes of Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, and Ryerson down that flank.
Last season he was sent-off twice for Viktoria Plzen and racked up double figures in yellow cards for club and country.
Read our full Iraq vs Norway team news and predicted lineups here
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