World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast vs Norway Tips, Prediction & Odds

* Prices from Betway, accurate when this was written.

Ivory Coast meet Norway in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, with this 2026 World Cup Round of 32 game kicking off at 19:00 CAT. Emerse Fae's team made the knockout stage for the first time ever after coming second in Group E, while Norway got through Group I as runners up to France. With Erling Haaland in blistering form, this looks set to be an open game. You can find every World Cup betting tips we have in our dedicated section.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast made the last 32 after scoring first in all three of their group matches, beating Ecuador and Curacao on either side of a narrow late defeat to Germany. As I see it, Fae has found a nice balance, with Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare giving the team a strong core and Nicolas Pepe back to his best with two goals against Curacao. Yan Diomande has become a real danger out wide, and Amad Diallo brings Premier League class in the final third. The way I see it, the Elephants will fancy going head to head rather than sitting back.

Expected Lineup: Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Diomande, Operi; Sangare, Kessie; Diallo, Diomande; Pepe, Bonny.

Norway

Norway came into the knockouts as the great entertainers, with fifteen goals in their three group games and Erling Haaland scoring four of them, including two in the 3-2 win against Senegal. In my view Stale Solbakken's team will always find the net but also leave space at the back, as they conceded in every group game. Martin Odegaard runs things behind Haaland, but it is their star striker who is the biggest weapon in this side. Solbakken rested a few regular starters in the last group game, so Haaland, Odegaard and Nusa all come back fresh for this one.

Expected Lineup: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

Both of these teams love to go forward and neither back line has looked solid, so I am expecting an open game with chances at either end. Norway have the bigger goal threat in Haaland and Odegaard, and I think that extra sharpness is what will split the two sides. Ivory Coast will get on the scoresheet, but I narrowly favour Norway to win a high scoring game. My forecast: Ivory Coast 1 Norway 2.

BTTS: Yes (1.73)

I am going with both teams to score, because I believe the goals that flowed so easily in these sides' group games will keep coming here. Ivory Coast have scored in every match and went ahead first in all three group games, while Norway have let in a goal in each game despite all their attacking power. With Haaland at one end and Pepe and Amad at the other, I think both keepers will be kept busy.