Ivory Coast to face Norway in FIFA World Cup round...

By Rohan Gupta — 30 June 2026 — 4 min read

The Ivory Coast is set to compete against Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32. This match marks the Ivory Coast‘s first appearance in the knockout stages of the tournament. The game will take place at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, United States, on Tuesday, June 30, at noon (17:00 GMT).

Norway, making their first World Cup appearance since 1998, will rely on their star striker, Erling Haaland, who has scored four goals in two games during the group stage. Haaland was rested for Norway‘s final group match against France. Coach Stale Solbakken described Haaland as a “powerhouse” forward and a great leader for the team, highlighting his goal-scoring instinct and physicality.

Ivory Coast’s Journey to the Knockouts

The Ivory Coast secured their spot in the round of 32 by finishing second in Group E with six points, behind Germany on a head-to-head record. Their group stage performance included a 1-0 win over Ecuador and a 2-0 win against Curacao. Their only defeat in the group stage was a 2-1 loss to Germany, during which they only trailed for three minutes and 29 seconds.

This achievement is particularly significant for the Ivory Coast, as it is their first time reaching the knockout stage after three consecutive group-stage exits in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups. The team’s current squad has surpassed the performance of previous generations, including those featuring players like the Toure brothers and Didier Drogba.

The Ivory Coast‘s attacking options are diverse, with Nicolas Pepe leading their scoring with two goals. Amad Diallo and Franck Kessie have each contributed one goal. Additionally, 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande has been a key creative force from midfield, with reports linking him to a transfer from RB Leipzig to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Coach Emerse Fae noted that the team’s ability to spread goals among multiple players is a significant strength.

Norway’s Path and Key Players

Norway also finished second in their group, Group I, with six points, placing them below France. Their group stage results included a 4-1 win against Iraq and a 3-2 win over Senegal, securing their progression to the round of 32 with a match to spare. Their only group stage defeat was a 4-1 loss to France.

This tournament marks Norway‘s return to the World Cup stage after their last appearance in 1998, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Italy with a 1-0 score. Captain Martin Odegaard has also been instrumental for Norway, providing two assists during the group stage.

The upcoming match is the first-ever meeting between the Ivory Coast and Norway. Historically, the Ivory Coast has won only one of their last five World Cup matches against European opposition, with one draw and three losses. In contrast, Norway has a strong record against African nations, having lost only two of their 19 contests across all competitions, with nine wins and eight draws.

Norway's players and coaching staff perform a rowing-style celebration together on the pitch — Norway are playing at their first World Cup in 28 years [Mike Segar Credit: aljazeera.com

Match Outlook and Predictions

The Ivory Coast‘s defensive strategy will likely focus on containing Haaland, with centre-back Ousmane Diomande expected to play a crucial role. The match is anticipated to be a thorough test for the West African team’s defence.

According to one supercomputer’s calculations, Norway has a 56.1 percent probability of winning the match in regulation time, while the Ivory Coast has a 21.6 percent chance of victory. There is a 22.3 percent chance that the game could go into extra time or penalties. The winner of this match will advance to face five-time champions Brazil in the round of 16, who recently secured a victory over Japan.

The match will be broadcast on various channels globally. In the Ivory Coast, viewers can watch on New World Sport 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 at 5pm Greenwich Mean Time. In Norway, the game will be available on TV2, NRK 1, NRK 2 at 7pm Central European Summer Time. Viewers in the United Kingdom can tune into BBC at 6pm British Summer Time, while those in the USA can watch on FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock at 1pm Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, June 30.