The Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup continues with a particularly intriguing matchup in Dallas, where Ivory Coast faces Norway with a spot in the Round of 16 at stake (8:00 p.m.).

Ivory Coast is making history, as this is its first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockout stage. Emers Fae’s team advanced as the second-place finisher in its group, showcasing a well-balanced squad with a strong defense and an effective offense. The Africans defeated Ecuador (1-0), suffered a narrow loss to Germany (2-1), and closed out the group stage with a comfortable 2-0 win over Curaçao.

On the other side, Ståle Solbakken’s Norway has returned to the World Cup finals after 28 years and relies heavily on the finishing prowess of Erling Haaland. The Manchester City forward has already scored four goals in the tournament, leading Norway to victories over Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2), before suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to France.

Starting Lineups

Ivory Coast (Emers Faé): Fofana – Doué, Kosounou, Agbadou, Diomandé, Konan – Sangaré – Pépé, Kessie, Oulay, Yann Diomandé – Boni.

Norway (Ståle Solbakken): Niland – Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe – Edegard, Berg, Berge – Serlooth, Haaland, Nusa.

*photo source: AP