Ivory Coast vs Norway

Ivory Coast vs Norway, a balanced last-32 tie The Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup pits Ivory Coast against Norway, two nations that finished second in their respective groups. The Elephants finished behind Germany in Group E, reaching a historic milestone: for the first time they get past the group stage of a World Cup. Their run speaks of solidity, with a 1-0 over Ecuador, a 1-2 to Germany that came only late, and a clear 2-0 over Curaçao. Norway, back in the spotlight after a very long absence, finished second in Group I behind France, who beat them 4-1 in the head-to-head; before that loss, the Scandinavians had swept Iraq aside 4-1 and beaten Senegal 3-2. The tip under review combines the draw-or-away line, that is, Norway not losing, with a game between one and six goals. Haaland against Ivorian solidity Norway's main weapon is their attack: led by Erling Haaland, they scored in every group game, showing constant threat. The flip side is a not-flawless defence, which conceded plenty, as the four goals to France and two to Senegal attest. Ivory Coast, for their part, are a physical, organised side, able to stand up to Germany and manage games with order, even if their attacking output is more contained. The clash between the Scandinavian attack and Ivorian solidity is the heart of this tie. The final lineups remain to be confirmed close to kick-off. A new fixture Ivory Coast and Norway have no significant precedents, as nations from different confederations that had never met in important contexts. At a World Cup it is a new page for both. What matters, then, is only the current profiles: Norwegian attacking verve on one side, Ivorian compactness on the other. The verdict: Norway slightly ahead, goals all but guaranteed The tip combines two elements of different weight. The goals part, a game between one and six goals, is almost a given: Norway scored in every group game and Ivory Coast can strike too, so a 0-0 looks unlikely, while a runaway score is just as rare. The real question is the first part, Norway not losing: the Scandinavians have more attacking quality, but they face an awkward, well-organised side, in an all-in-all balanced tie. I'd put the overall probability around 62%. The main risk is an Ivory Coast able to use their organisation and physicality to edge it, perhaps catching a vulnerable Norwegian defence on the counter. The confidence is fair.