BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Torbjorn Heggem of Bologna leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Iraq vs Norway sees both sides kick off their World Cup campaigns, with three points on the line in Boston.
Genoa’s Leo Østigård starts from the bench, with Bologna’s Torbjørn Heggem taking his place in central defence alongside Ajer.
Torino right-back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is also among the substitutes, while Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt and Cremonese’s Morten Thorsby, the most experienced Serie A player in the squad, are both named among the replacements.
Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, heavily linked with Juventus this summer, starts on the right of the attack.
For Iraq, Como’s Ali Jassim, who spent last season on loan at Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia, is named among the starters, while Venezia’s Marko Farji starts on the bench.
Iraq vs Norway – World Cup 2026 – Official Lineups
Iraq XI (4-4-2): Hassan; H.Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Jasim, Ismael, Al Ammari, Bayesh; Hussein, M.Ali.
Norway XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.
