Iraq's head coach reflected on a historic night — his side's first World Cup appearance in 40 years, complete with the nation's first-ever World Cup goal from Hussein. He praised the opening 65–70 minutes, during which Iraq pressed well and largely contained Norway.

The goal conceded right before half-time, he said, was a significant mental blow, though he urged the players to reset and move on. Mistakes at this level will always be punished, and the squad must learn from them.

Ali Alamardi was singled out as a standout performer, with the coach describing him as a top-class footballer. On Norway, he warned the football world not to underestimate them — their set-piece threat and physical size make them a dangerous outfit capable of going far in the tournament.

Erling Haaland drew particular admiration; the coach approached him after the final whistle and called him one of the best number nines he has ever seen. With nine points still available in the group, Iraq will aim for a third-place finish, which may be enough to advance under the 48-team format.

Norway opened their World Cup 2026 campaign with a win over Iraq, though the match was far from straightforward. The coach admitted the initial 4-4-2 setup struggled against Iraq's aerial threat: their striker dominated headers and produced knockdowns for runners, making the defensive structure look thin.

A bone-dry pitch killed Norway's passing game — balls stuck in the grass and turned sequences into physical duels, which Iraq's defensive midfielders largely won. Switching to 4-3-3 changed the match immediately, with a goal arriving within ten seconds of the adjustment.

Haaland lived up to the occasion; two sharp training sessions before the game gave the coach confidence he would deliver. Ødegaard covered enormous defensive ground but rarely received the ball in his intended zones — the coach attributed this directly to pitch conditions rather than form, and confirmed he starts the next game.

The second half was controlled, with Norway creating four or five clear-cut chances. The squad gets two days off with family in Greensboro before preparations for Senegal begin.