- Recent form: Ivory Coast have won seven of their last ten matches in all competitions (Drawn 1, Lost 2).
- Form: Norway have won five of their last ten games in all competitions (Drawn 3, Lost 2).
A clash of styles at Dallas Stadium
This should be a close game between two teams who play in different ways, and we're taking Norway or Draw at the price in Dallas. In a cagey game, the Under 2.5 Goals market is also live, while Both Teams To Score – No at 1.98 is our main selection.
Emerse Faé has led the Ivory Coast since January 2024, and his flexible 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 system has them playing compact, controlled, and dangerous in transition. Their 3 most recent results in FIFA World Cup Group E 2026 were a 1-0 win over Ecuador, a 2-1 defeat against Germany and a 2-0 victory over Curacao, which demonstrates their ability to bounce back from a disappointing result.
Norway, on the other hand, have played under Philippe Clement since he took over in November 2025. The Dutchman prefers the 4-3-3 system with a heavy reliance on vertical play and the finishing prowess of Erling Haaland.
Haaland can be the difference
Form
Norway's last 5 results across all competitions read Wins 3, Draw 1, Loss 1, a mixed-but-good stretch of form that has seen Haaland net four of his team's 11 goals.
That run looks great on paper, but not quite as good as Ivory Coast's last 5, which read Wins 4, Loss 1.
Players to watch
Ivory Coast are a very good team with a lot of momentum coming into this game. However, Norway have a real edge in the final third of the field with Haaland.
Norway's two most recent group results in FIFA World Cup 2026 – a 3-2 win over Senegal and a 4-1 defeat against France – represent a swing of 5 goals.
- Nicolas Pepe is the big star for Ivory Coast, and he has scored 3 of the Elephants' 10 goals across their last 5 matches in all competitions.
- Haaland's ability to create something out of nothing makes Norway the favorite here at 1.91, but that's a little short for us.
