Norway defeated Iraq 1-0 in their opening match of Group I qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Erling Haaland is expected to be a key player for Norway throughout the qualifying campaign. Iraq is participating in the World Cup qualifying rounds after securing the final qualifying spot. The match marks the start of the qualifying process for both teams, with Norway aiming to secure a place in the expanded 48-team tournament. This victory provides a positive start for Norway as they compete to advance from their group. The game was closely followed as it represented Iraq’s return to World Cup contention and Norway’s first step towards qualification.