The most compelling storyline of the opening round in Group I is not merely Norway’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence, but the long-awaited debut of Erling Haaland on the sport’s grandest stage. The 25-year-old striker arrives at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as the all-time leading scorer for his country, having amassed 55 goals in just 49 international appearances, obliterating a record that stood for nearly a century. His club form—112 goals in 132 outings for Manchester City—has made him the focal point of global expectation, and his coach, Ståle Solbakken, has been unambiguous about the game plan: “We will give the ball to Haaland.” For Norway, the equation is simple yet freighted with pressure; convert domestic and qualifying dominance into a statement victory against Iraq, or risk an early stumble in a group that also contains France and Senegal.

Viewed from Oslo, the Norwegian camp exudes a quiet confidence rooted in a flawless qualifying campaign—eight wins from eight matches, with Haaland contributing 16 goals—and a generation of talent that includes Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, Alexander Sørloth, and the emerging Antonio Nusa. Pre-tournament friendlies, including a 3-1 victory over Sweden, reinforced the sense that this side is far more than a one-man show, even if the Manchester City forward remains the gravitational centre. Solbakken’s tactical challenge is to ensure the supply lines from midfield are consistent enough to turn possession into the clear-cut chances Haaland thrives on. The European perspective holds that Norway should impose themselves early, leveraging technical superiority to avoid the kind of scrappy contest that might favour an underdog.

In Asian football circles, however, Iraq’s presence carries its own historical weight. The Lions of Mesopotamia are competing at a World Cup for only the second time, their previous appearance in 1986 ending without a point. They secured their place via an intercontinental playoff against Bolivia, and they step onto the field in New England knowing that Asian representatives have yet to lose an opening match at this tournament: South Korea beat the Czech Republic, while Japan, Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran all avoided defeat. That regional momentum offers a psychological edge, even if statistical models give Iraq a mere seven percent chance of victory. For the North American host nation, the match is a showcase of the tournament’s global reach, with broadcasters from Brazil’s CazéTV to Mexico’s ViX Premium carrying the action live, and a large expatriate audience expected to tune in from across the Middle East.

Looking ahead, the stakes could scarcely be higher for both sides. A defeat for either team would leave them facing an uphill battle to reach the knockout stage, with France and Senegal waiting in subsequent fixtures. Norway must demonstrate that their qualifying efficiency translates to the tournament environment, where the margins are finer and the scrutiny on Haaland will be relentless. Iraq, for their part, will seek to frustrate and counter, hoping to extend Asia’s unbeaten start and rewrite their own World Cup narrative. The outcome in Foxborough will not decide the group, but it will set the psychological tone—and for Haaland, it represents the first true test of whether he can carry a nation’s hopes on the biggest stage of all.