Ivory Coast vs Norway: Can Ivory Coast Stop Erling Haaland?

Predictions

Norway are the slight favorites to win this one.

Most experts pick Norway, mainly because of their two superstars.

But Ivory Coast defend really well, so this will not be easy at all.

• Our prediction: Norway win 3-1.
• BetMGM: a Norway win, with goals at both ends.
• Oddschecker: Norway are the favorites, but only by a little.
• ESPN: Norway have the edge, in a game that should have goals.

Haaland is finally at a World Cup

Here is what makes this game so special.

For years, Norway kept missing out on the World Cup.

So for the first time ever, Erling Haaland gets to play in one.

And this is the same striker who scores goals for fun at Manchester City.

So you can imagine what this moment means to Norway and their fans.

Here is the best part: Haaland is not even doing it alone.

Right beside him is their captain, the midfielder Martin Odegaard.

He is Arsenal's captain too, and he is the one who sets up the goals.

So that is two of the best players in the world, on the same team, at last.

And together they are scary: Norway scored 8 goals in just 3 group games.

They beat Iraq 4-1, then beat Senegal 3-2, then lost 4-1 to France.

But that loss to France showed their one big weak spot.

Norway score a lot, but they let in a lot of goals too.

Ivory Coast are the African champions

So now meet the team standing in Norway's way.

Ivory Coast are the best team in all of Africa right now.

They proved it by winning the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, the biggest prize on the continent.

So this is no small nation that is just happy to be here.

And the way they win is simple: a strong, hard-to-beat defense.

They are so organized at the back that they almost never give goals away.

On top of that, they did it the tough way, in a group with Germany.

They beat Ecuador 1-0, then lost 2-1 to Germany, then beat Curacao 2-0.

And their coach Emerse Fae makes them tough to break down every single game.

So here is the matchup: big star power against a strong, solid wall.

Why are Norway the favorites?

So why do most experts pick Norway? One simple reason: their two superstars.

Haaland can score even from a half chance.

And Odegaard is the one who finds him with the perfect pass.

Put them together and no team left in this tournament has a duo like that.

On top of that, Norway scored more goals than Ivory Coast in the group stage.

They are the higher-ranked side too, 38th in the FIFA rankings to Ivory Coast's 41st.

And their coach Stale Solbakken has built a team that loves to attack.

So add it all up, and you can see why Norway are favored.

Our call: 3-1 Norway

So here is who we think wins, and why.

Ivory Coast defend well, but Norway just have too much power up front.

So we believe that sooner or later, Haaland and Odegaard will find a way through.

But here is the twist: this will not be a clean win for Norway either.

They let in goals at the back, just like they did against France.

So we think Ivory Coast score too, and grab one back.

That is why we are calling it 3-1 Norway, with goals at both ends.

And the winner goes through to the last 16.

Where and when is the match?

The game is on Tuesday June 30 2026 at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.

And kickoff is at 12:00 noon local time.

Still need a ticket? Take a look at our World Cup tickets guide.