Norway’s Martin Odegaard brushes off injury concerns ahead of Iraq opener

Foxborough – Norway captain Martin Odegaard says he has no concerns about his fitness ahead of his side’s opening Group I match against Iraq in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 16, his nation’s first World Cup game since 1998.

With Erling Haaland scoring the goals and the 27-year-old pulling the strings in midfield, Norway have made their way back to the top table of global football, but a run of injuries early in 2026 raised questions over the health of the midfielder, who recently won the English Premier League title with Arsenal.

“I feel good. I don’t know what you’re so worried about. Yes, I’ve had some trouble, as you know, but I feel good now,” Odegaard told reporters on June 14.

Having missed out on the last six World Cups, Norway stormed to victory in their qualification group ahead of Italy and Israel on the back of eight wins in eight games, with 37 goals scored and five conceded.

“That’s where we’ve set the standard, after what we’ve done in qualifying. We’re changing expectations, that’s good and I’m not going to say that’s wrong. Now it’s Iraq that matters,” Odegaard said.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken said both his captain and Haaland were fit for the opener against Iraq, with the striker looking sharp in particular.

“He had his best training session yesterday, 11 against 11, and he had the goal of the year. It would have been the goal of the year in the World Cup if it had been broadcast, a volley from 20 metres – if it had hit (goalkeeper Egil) Selvik, he would have been killed, but luckily it went into the corner,” the coach laughed.

Standing in Norway’s path are an Iraq side whose route to the global showpiece was via an exhausting 21-match qualifying campaign that – despite travel disruption caused by the US and Israeli war with neighbouring Iran – ended with victory over Bolivia in the inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold led his native Australia to the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar where they were defeated by eventual champions Argentina.

Striker Aymen Hussein, who scored the goal that sent Iraq to the Finals, will be seeking to steal some of Haaland’s limelight after being held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after arriving in the US.

As well as containing the threat posed by the big Norwegian, Iraq will have to keep their emotions in check after some recent red cards, including one in their final warmup game – a 2-0 defeat by Venezuela on June 9 – when forward Ali Yousif was shown ​a straight red card.

REUTERS