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Norway and Iraq will take to the 2026 World Cup stage this evening at the Boston Stadium, broadcast by the BBC at 11pm.
Despite Group I being referred to by football fans across the globe as the 'Group of Death' - there's no better test for Norway to show the world whether they're contenders, or pretenders.
With a remarkable 24/24 points in their World Cup qualifying group, Iraq face off against a Norway side with a point to prove, but is the outcome really as pre-determined as it appears?
Norway vs Iraq prediction, 2026 World Cup in Group I
It goes without saying: there is no easy match at the World Cup, not even with a +16 team expansion that many argued would jeopardise competitiveness in the earlier stages.
That has been made crystal clear over the tournament's first week, with Cape Verde holding Spain to a remarkable 0-0 draw, Egypt battling valiantly against Belgium, and Japan turning up in the clutch against the Netherlands to secure a 2-2 stalemate.
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The first issue that Iraq will encounter is the Erling Haaland problem. For a striker used to playing in one of England's most well-oiled systems, you'd expect him to struggle a little for Norway, right?
Obviously, we know that to be false, and the Norwegian has little difficulties translating his game to the international stage as his ridiculous World Cup qualifying record proved.
18 goal involvements in eight games. Read that one more time. The man scored 16 goals, and bagged a couple of assists, in eight games as Norway marched to a perfect qualifying record against Italy, Estonia, Israel and Moldova.
And Iraq's squad is amidst many nations who failed to qualify for the North American tournament in the FIFA world rankings - this isn't a dramatic leap in opponent quality for the Norwegian bagsman.
His speed and power makes him a chance magnet, and his presence in March's friendly against the Netherlands, who won 2-1 against Norway, was sorely missed.
Ultimately, Iraq will be forced to adopt the age-old game plan of sitting back and praying.
But as Cape Verde showed us, that approach is not always doomed to fail, and Norway's defence - who conceded in 50% of their World Cup qualifying games - can be exploited.
Unfortunately, Iraq lack the sort of player who could turn water into wine with that defensive approach, hitting the Scandinavians on dangerous counters.
A Norway victory feels all but guaranteed, and for a team making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, an early goal against inferior opponents could shake off any nerves and lead to a bloodbath.
Prediction: 3-0 Norway, with goals arriving from Haaland (x2) and Antonio Nusa.
