Iraq vs Norway: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft Zidane Iqbal & Erling Haaland

Can Man City star striker Erling Haaland score on his World Cup debut against the Lions of Mesopotamia?

Perched on the elevated, forested terrain of Norfolk County, the Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, USA, gears up to host the opening match week fixture of Group I in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where European heavyweights Norway take on Iraq in what is set to be a thrilling encounter.

Lions of Mesopotamia are making a comeback to the grandest stage of football after a long wait of nearly four decades. The last time they played in the World Cup was back in 1986 Mexico. Iraq are yet to win a World Cup game, and they need a miracle to clinch a win in the group of death.

They are led by Australian gaffer Graham Arnold, who has previously led the Central Coast Mariners and the Australia national team.

Norway are expected to be one of the dark horses of the FIFA World Cup 2026. They are returning to the World Cup after 28 years. Yet they remain one of the favourites to cause big upsets. Some very big names in the squad like Odegaard, Haaland and Sorloth compete and dominate top European leagues.

They are led by Norwegian gaffer Ståle Solbakken, who will be keen to cause some big upsets in the Group of Death consisting of France, Senegal and Iraq.

In this article, we take a look at the top five players to keep an eye on in the upcoming match between Iraq and Norway.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures, Schedule, Results, Match Timings & Where to Watch

5. Martin Odegaard (Norway)

The youngest player to ever wear the captain’s armband in the history of the Norwegian top flight, Odegaard is a born leader, who captained Arsenal to their first ever EPL title in nearly two decades.

He is the creative playmaker for Norway and his immense experience playing across top English sides makes him one of the finest midfielders in the World Cup. One of the most decorated Norwegian players, Odegaard knows how to deliver results at big stages.

4. Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq)

Al Hamadi was part of the Ipswich Town team that secured a historic promotion to the English Premier League last season. He spent his youth career with Swansea City, where he honed his skills.

He served two loan spells at Stoke City and Luton Town. Unlike many other Iraqi players, he has that European pedigree. From fleeing Iraq during war to Liverpool to carrying the hopes of a billion Iraqi, Al Hamadi has come a long way.

3. Erling Haaland (Norway)

Arguably the greatest striker in world football and one of the major contenders to win the Golden Boot in FIFA World Cup 2026, Erling Haaland will play his first ever World Cup game against Iraq and will be keen to make it memorable.

The Manchester City striker is in terrific form and his physicality coupled with his acceleration makes him very difficult to contain. It will be a nightmare for Iraqi defenders to keep Haaland quiet in his World Cup debut.

2. Zidane Iqbal (Iraq)

Born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, Iqbal spent his initial days at the hallowed Old Trafford honing his skills from an early age before making a move to FC Utrecht.

The defensive midfielder will be tasked with the responsibility of dominating the midfield and preventing any counterattacks during transition plays. Iqbal has fully adapted to the Dutch Eredivisie and he is one of the most technically sound players in the team.

1. Kristoffer Ajer (Norway)

Ajer is the fundamental pillar of Brentford’s backline in the English top flight. Much like Odegaard, Ajer also knows how to win trophies. During his time in Scotland with Celtic, he had a trophy laden career, winning back to back three Scottish Championship.

What makes Ajer an asset is his ability to contribute offensively during set pieces. His towering presence during set pieces is a haunting sight for opposition defenders and goalkeepers.

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