World Cup Group Stage - 1
Iraq 1 - 4 FT Norway
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
E. Haaland (D. Wolfe) 29'
39' A. Hussein (A. Al Ammari)
E. Haaland 43'
HT
59' ↓ Z. Ismaeel ↑Z. Iqbal
59' ↓ A. Al Hamadi ↑M. Farji
↓ A. Nusa ↑A. Schjelderup 73'
↓ F. Aursnes ↑K. Thorstvedt 73'
↓ D. Wolfe ↑L. Ostigard 73'
↓ A. Sorloth ↑O. Bobb 73'
73' ↓ H. Ali ↑M. Saadoon
73' ↓ A. Jasim ↑A. Qasem
L. Ostigard (M. Odegaard) 76'
78' ↓ I. Bayesh ↑Meme
↓ M. Odegaard ↑P. Berg 81'
86' Z. Tahseen
A. Hussein 90'+6
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Iraq
Goalkeepers
Jalal Hassan 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Hussein Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Zaid Tahseen 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Akam Hashem 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Merchas Doski 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
79%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Ibrahim Bayesh
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Zaid Ismail
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Amir Al-Ammari 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
7
Rating
Ali Jasim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Forwards
Aymen Hussein 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Own Goal
Impact
7.5
Rating
Ali Al-Hamadi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
BENCH
Ahmed Basil 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Fahad Talib
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Rebin Sulaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Frans Putros
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ahmed Hasan Maknazi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mustafa Saadoon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Munaf Younus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marko Farji
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zidane Iqbal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kevin Yakob
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aimar Sher
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Youssef Amyn
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ahmed Qasem
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohanad Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ali Yousif
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Norway
Goalkeepers
Ørjan Nyland
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Julian Ryerson 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
Kristoffer Ajer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Torbjørn Heggem 
MAGNET
88
Activity
88
Activity
84
Passes
4
Duels
David Møller Wolfe
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.7
Rating
Midfielders
Martin Ødegaard
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Sander Berge
MAGNET
88
Activity
88
Activity
82
Passes
6
Duels
Fredrik Aursnes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Antonio Nusa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Forwards
Alexander Sørloth
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Erling Haaland 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
4
On Target
8.2
Rating
BENCH
Sander Tangvik
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Egil Selvik
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Henrik Sælebakke Falchener
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leo Østigård 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Fredrik André Bjørkan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sondre Langås
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcus Pedersen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thelo Aasgaard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Morten Thorsby
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Patrick Berg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Oscar Bobb
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kristian Thorstvedt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jens Petter Hauge
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andreas Schjelderup
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jørgen Strand Larsen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Haaland's Double Sparks Group Stage Rout at Gillette
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 57/100. A frantic 14-minute goal flurry completely broke this match open, proving the European powerhouse has far too much attacking firepower for this group to handle.
First-Half Firefight
A cagey opening at Gillette Stadium exploded into life just before the half-hour mark. Norway dominated possession right out of the gate, calmly cycling the ball and probing for openings. It took a moment of pure quality from E. Haaland to finally break the deadlock, latching onto a brilliant feed from D. Wolfe in the 29th minute. The Balance of the match shifted instantly, forcing the underdogs to abandon their defensive shell. Iraq refused to simply roll over, hitting back ten minutes later through A. Hussein after a well-worked move. For a fleeting, glorious moment, the Middle Eastern side looked fully capable of springing a massive shock on the global stage, proving they brought real attacking intent to this tournament.
The Lethal Pivot
That hard-fought parity lasted exactly four minutes before the European heavyweights restored order. The Intensity went completely off the charts as Haaland grabbed his second of the night just two minutes before the halftime whistle. That three-goal flurry in 14 breathless minutes entirely dismantled Iraq's conservative game plan. Sitting deep was no longer a viable option, forcing them to chase the match against an opponent comfortably holding 61 percent of the ball. Norway simply suffocated the spaces in midfield, utilizing their massive 530 total passes to dictate the tempo. They systematically starved the Iraqi frontline of any meaningful service while methodically waiting for fresh gaps to appear at the back as the opposition grew increasingly desperate and fatigued.
Sealing the Points
The Stakes for this opening group stage match were massive, and Norway’s depth ultimately put the result beyond any doubt. Recognizing the need for fresh legs, the manager turned to his bench. Substitute L. Ostigard entered the fray in the 73rd minute and required barely three minutes to make an impact, nodding home a precise delivery from M. Odegaard. Despite registering 11 total shots, the Iraqi side lacked the clinical edge needed to claw their way back into the contest. A crushing 96th-minute own goal by Hussein added cruel insult to injury, sealing the 4-1 scoreline. Norway now sit comfortably at the top of the group standings, leaving their battered opponents with a massive mountain to climb.
Key Questions
What caused the 5-goal thriller?
A 14-minute goal flurry in the first half destroyed tactical setups, turning a cagey match into an open shootout that heavily favored the clinical Europeans.
What does this mean for Iraq's season?
With zero points and a negative-three goal difference at the bottom of the group, they face an uphill battle to reach the knockout stages.
How did substitute Erling Haaland change the game?
Haaland actually started and scored a crucial brace. It was substitute Leo Østigård who provided the bench impact, scoring within three minutes of his arrival.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
A Mismatch at the Start of the World Cup Campaign
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 7/100. A heavy mismatch on paper leaves little room for a competitive spectacle unless Iraq can engineer a historic defensive masterclass.
The Setup
June 16, 2026, brings a stark contrast to Gillette Stadium as Iraq face a daunting World Cup group stage opener against Norway. Our pre-match indicators reflect a massive gap in quality, with an incredibly low Balance rating highlighting Norway's overwhelming probability of victory. While early tournament matches carry a baseline level of tension, the overall Stakes feel muted given the lopsided expectations. Neither side brings blinding Form into the tournament, but the European outfit possesses a clear structural advantage. A lack of household Stars in the context of this specific fixture might limit neutral appeal, yet in a survive-and-advance tournament environment, a slip-up here could prove instantly fatal for either side.
Key Battle
The defining conflict will be the Norwegian attacking unit against the Iraqi low block. Expect the European side to dominate possession, forcing the Asian representatives to defend deep and rely entirely on isolated, long-ball counter-attacks to relieve pressure.
Our Prediction
Norway will dictate the tempo from the opening whistle. The sheer gap in quality suggests a comfortable victory, likely 3-0, as their sustained offensive pressure eventually breaks down a resilient but outmatched Iraqi backline.