Before kick-off: define the sample first

OutcomematchesShare
Iraq wins0
Draws0
Norway wins0

FactUsing the explicit scope of completed 2026 World Cup matches before kick-off, the teams had met 0 times: 0 Iraq wins, 0 draws and 0 Norway wins. This is not presented as an all-time record.

FactThe comparison direction on this page is fixed: Iraq is the recorded home side, Norway the away side, and 1–4 is stored in that order. A later meeting would remain a separate event record.

Personnel: how the starting XI changed

FactIraq established its tournament starting baseline; Norway also established its opening baseline. Continuity is calculated from confirmed starters only.

FactIraq's opening baseline includes Jalal Hassan, Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen; Norway's opening baseline includes Ørjan Nyland, Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer. The names connect the continuity count to specific personnel.

The result: 1–4 and the decisive sequence

29′
Erling Haaland changes the score0–1; assisted by David Møller Wolfe
39′
Aymen Hussein changes the score1–1; assisted by Amir Al-Ammari
43′
Erling Haaland changes the score1–2
76′
Leo Østigård changes the score1–3; assisted by Martin Ødegaard
90′
Aymen Hussein changes the score1–4

FactThe final score was Iraq 1–4 Norway. The verified scoring sequence was 29′ Erling Haaland、39′ Aymen Hussein、43′ Erling Haaland、76′ Leo Østigård、90′ Aymen Hussein. Score, sequence and line-up changes are facts; the mechanism inferred from them is labelled as analysis.

FactThe verification index for Iraq versus Norway fixes four fields: the 1–4 final score, the 2026 FIFA World Cup · Group I stage, the Gillette Stadium location and 5 scoring events. Together they identify this match without borrowing context from another fixture.

FactNode 1: Erling Haaland scored for Norway in minute 29, setting the ledger at 0–1; Node 2: Aymen Hussein scored for Iraq in minute 39, setting the ledger at 1–1; Node 3: Erling Haaland scored for Norway in minute 43, setting the ledger at 1–2; Node 4: Leo Østigård scored for Norway in minute 76, setting the ledger at 1–3; Node 5: Aymen Hussein scored for Norway in minute 90, setting the ledger at 1–4

FactIraq's location key for this match is Gillette Stadium, shared by Norway; Iraq's 1 goals and Norway's 4 goals belong only to this venue and kick-off record.

Why this result made sense

AnalysisIraq versus Norway, 1–4: Norway converted the lead against Iraq into the 1-4 result. Aggregated player data shows a shot gap of 1 and a pass-completion gap of 7.7 percentage points; game-state management mattered more than any single possession number.

Evidence confidence92%