Ivory Coast vs Norway: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
(Courtesy : Getty)
Ivory Coast will face Norway at the Dallas Stadium on Tuesday
Norway’s return to the FIFA World Cup has been good so far, as Erling Haaland has led them to the knockout stage. The Norwegians will face the Ivory Coast in their round-of-32 tie, with the Africans boasting their own plethora of stars.
Both Norway and the Ivory Coast finished second in their respective groups, with two wins and one loss in their group-stage campaigns. Here are players who can help elevate the standards in the Ivory Coast vs Norway match in the FIFA World Cup 2026:
5. Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)
The 31-year-old was one of Europe’s most sought-after talents when Arsenal bought him for £72 million in 2019. Nicolas Pépé’s career didn’t take off as expected in England, and he has since changed clubs three times before settling in Spain with Villarreal.
Pepe had a decent season for Villarreal with 8 goals and 9 assists in 46 appearances. He stood up when it mattered the most for Ivory Coast and bagged a double against Curacao to guarantee the qualification to the round of 32. Nicolas Pepe’s experience will be important for the African side in this knockout fixture.
4. Martin Ødegaard (Norway)
Norway’s captain has led his side with valour in this tournament. Martin Ødegaard, fresh off winning the Premier League title with Arsenal, has provided two assists to his teammates in the group stage.
The midfielder has had an 88.7% pass success rate in this World Cup. While he has not been involved in every major chance, Ødegaard has chipped in whenever his team needed it. With the Ivory Coast having a solid backline, the Arsenal star’s passing abilities will matter a lot on Tuesday.
3. Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast)
The Ivory Coast have exciting young talents on either wing in Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande. However, someone more vital would be Franck Kessie, who will be tasked with holding the midfield together for the island nation.
Aside from the goal that he scored against Germany, Kessie has an 86% pass success rate, and he has also made 14 recoveries to help his defence. With Norway’s defence somewhat leaky, Kessie will be looking to create chances to release either winger and stretch their opponents’ defence.
2. Kristoffer Ajer (Norway)
While Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard will be responsible for getting the goals, Kristoffer Ajer will be in charge of maintaining Norway’s backline. The centreback has won 13 grounded duels and 7 air duels in this tournament.
In addition to the duels, the Norwegian has made 21 defensive contributions, 9 recoveries, and 14 clearances. Norway have conceded 7 goals in the group stage, and hence Ajer’s contribution will be vital if they are to proceed further in the tournament.
1. Erling Haaland (Norway)
Starting off with the most obvious choice for this one, Erling Haaland has already left a mark in his first-ever World Cup campaign. The Norwegian striker has four goals in two group stage games, and he is riding high on confidence.
Haaland has taken 10 shots in this FIFA World Cup so far and created 3 chances for his teammates. The Manchester City star will once again be the man of the hour for the Norway football team, and it has to be seen if he can further bolster his goal tally.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Aasif, a football fan turned writer, has been writing about the sport since 2020. Based in Chennai, it is no surprise that love for Chennaiyin FC runs in his blood. Apart from Indian football, Aasif has also written and edited articles extensively about European football.