Jun 16, 2026
Austria vs. Jordan prediction, odds, props, World Cup 2026 picks [Group Stage]
Read Article Norway vs. Iraq World Cup Match: How to bet on today's heaviest favorite
Updated: | First published:
Written by Dave Garofolo, Content Producer
Reviewed by Nick Slade
Norway returns to World Cup action for the first time since 1998 and we look at two data-backed ways to bet on the heavy favorite without paying a premium on the odds.
After nearly three decades, Norway makes its triumphant return to the FIFA World Cup stage, backed by a new "golden generation" of players led by one of the best players in the world, superstar Erling Haaland, kicking off their 2026 World Cup tournament run in Norway vs. Iraq for their opening group stage game on Tuesday, June 16.
Despite this being the first action for the Norwegians at this level since 1998, they enter as the heaviest favorites of the day at -450 on the moneyline vs. the Iraqi squad, nearly double that of any other favored team today, as seen in our World Cup betting guide for Tuesday, June 16.
The team is sure to draw plenty of World Cup betting attention thanks to its star power, but as such heavy favorites, there's not much betting appeal to back them outright. However, as the Norwegian squad allowed just five goals over eight World Cup qualifying matches, we can focus on this defensive angle, combined with our Dimers Pro insights to find a more appealing play, including a longshot play at odds of +480.
Using the elite Dimers Pro data from our exclusive World Cup prediction models, let's look at two other ways to back the Norwegian squad to roll to a win, without having to pay a big premium on the odds.
Two ways to bet on Norway in opening World Cup match vs. Iraq [June, 16, 2026]
Norway Win to Nil:
It's an uphill battle for Iraq to score against this talented Norwegian team that outscored opponents 37-5 across eight World Cup qualifying matches.
The squad's big size, consistent personnel deployment and overall dominance in World Cup qualifiers sets the stage for another big show in the opening match.
Unsurprisingly, they are Dimers' most likely team to finish with a clean sheet and keep their opponent goalless across Tuesday's four matches, unfortunate news for Iraq, who secured the final spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Norway gets a 47.8% probability to hold Iraq scoreless on Tuesday, with the best odds at -130. Now, you still won't find a classic Dimers betting edge - our fair odds would be +109 - but you're getting a much more appealing number than the outright -450 on Norway's moneyline wager.
Consider pairing that with our top goalscorer, Erling Haaland, to find the net, as he anchors our boosted World Cup parlay of the day, to get plus-money odds.
Norway vs. Iraq Correct Score bet
For a similar bet but with a smaller opportunity for a win, consider betting on the exact result of the match.
Aligned with our high probability of a clean sheet, our top three most likely results, and the only three with at least a 10% probability are Norway 2-0 (14%), Norway 1-0 (12%) and Norway 3-0 (11%).
All three of those results also line up with our prediction of Under 3.5 goals at a 65.3% probability, our highest chance of an under across today's matches.
You can get our most likely correct score of Norway 2-0 at +480 on FanDuel.
Our most likely results in Norway vs. Iraq.
Bet the World Cup 2026 with confidence
The expanded 48-team format means more chaos, more betting opportunities, and more variance in team performance.
Having access to Dimers' World Cup predictions gives you a significant edge—whether you’re building World Cup parlays, targeting specific matchups, or just hunting for value across the various player props markets.
Dimers combines deep coverage of every World Cup match with transparent, science-backed player projections so you can bet smarter, understand the “why” behind the numbers, and enjoy betting on the World Cup with confidence.
To give you the most accurate and helpful information, this article has been reviewed and edited by Nick Slade through our fact-checking process.
Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
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