Iraq vs Norway sees both sides kick off their World Cup campaigns, with three points on the line in Boston.

Genoa’s Leo Østigård starts from the bench, with Bologna’s Torbjørn Heggem taking his place in central defence alongside Ajer.

Torino right-back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is also among the substitutes, while Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt and Cremonese’s Morten Thorsby, the most experienced Serie A player in the squad, are both named among the replacements.

Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, heavily linked with Juventus this summer, starts on the right of the attack.

For Iraq, Como’s Ali Jassim, who spent last season on loan at Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia, is named among the starters, while Venezia’s Marko Farji starts on the bench.

Iraq vs Norway – World Cup 2026 – Official Lineups

Iraq XI (4-4-2): Hassan; H.Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Jasim, Ismael, Al Ammari, Bayesh; Hussein, M.Ali.

Norway XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

Scotland face Haiti in their World Cup opener with a strong Serie A presence throughout the starting eleven.

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay leads the line from midfield, flanked by Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson, while Torino striker Che Adams starts up front alongside Lawrence Shankland.

Haiti field no players with Serie A connections in their starting eleven.

World Cup 2026 – Haiti vs Scotland Lineups

Haiti: Placide; Arcus, Adé, Delcroix, Expérience; Casimir, Bellegarde, Jacques, Providence; Isidor, Pierrot.

Scotland: Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, Christie; Adams, Shankland.

Switzerland kick off their World Cup campaign against Qatar with a strong Serie A presence in their starting eleven.

Manuel Akanji plays in the heart of defence, while Bologna’s Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Fabian Aebischer both start in midfield.

Former Bologna winger Dan Ndoye starts in attack, fresh after reports of a return to Serie A with Inter, with ex-Milan and Torino defender Ricardo Rodriguez completing the back line.

Qatar field no players with Serie A connections in their starting eleven.

World Cup 2026 – Switzerland vs Qatar

Qatar: Abunada; Al-Oui, Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi, Ahmed, Laye; Gaber, Madibo, Abdurisag; Edmilson, Afif.

Switzerland: Kobel; Akanji, Elvedi, Ricardo Rodríguez; Aebischer, Zakaria, Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Vargas; Embolo.

Inter are considering reviving their interest in Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye as a potential alternative to Marco Palestra, with the financial gap in the Atalanta wing-back’s valuation showing little sign of narrowing as the summer window progresses.

According to Il Giorno, via FCInter1908, Inter remain keen on Palestra and the feeling is mutual, but the numbers remain a significant obstacle.

The Nerazzurri value the talented starlet at around €45 million, while Atalanta are holding out for closer to €55 million.

Manchester City’s rumoured fascination with Palestra adds further competition to a deal that already looked complicated before other suitors entered the picture.

Frattesi exit could fund Ndoye move as Forest push for Inter midfielder in potential swap

Ndoye, who left Bologna for Nottingham Forest last summer, has previously been linked with the Nerazzurri and represents a more financially viable option on the right side of attack.

Forest themselves have reportedly reignited interest in Davide Frattesi, who is among the midfielders expected to depart this summer and is also being monitored by Napoli and Juventus.

Any deal involving Ndoye could therefore become entwined with Frattesi’s own situation, adding an extra layer of complexity to the right-flank reinforcement plans.

Elsewhere, the Nerazzurri are close to finalising a deal worth around €25 million, including bonuses, for Udinese centre-back Oumar Solet; progress that suggests defensive business may be resolved before the more complicated winger situation.

Reports in Italy claim that Bologna’s Jhon Lucumi is among the defenders that AFC Bournemouth could look to sign following the departure of Marcos Senesi, whose move to Tottenham Hotspur was officially announced on Wednesday. 

Could Bournemouth replace Senesi with Lucumi?

Senesi, who had been linked with a move to Juventus earlier this season, has left Bournemouth after four seasons and has joined Tottenham Hotspure on a free transfer, which leaves the Cherries looking at potential centre-back signings this summer. 

According to reports from Nicolo Schira, Bournemouth have shown an interest in picking up Colombia international Lucumi, who will turn 28 towards the end of this month. 

Lucumi has a release clause in his contract worth €28m, and it is believed that this clause will expire on July 10. 

Sunderland had also attempted to bring Lucumi to the Premier League during the previous summer transfer window, offering an initial fee of €25m before raising their bid to €28m plus a 10% sell-on clause, but as the defender’s release clause had expired by that point, Bologna were under no obligation to accept and the player ended up staying at the Dall’Ara for 2026-27. 

Lucumi has made 123 appearances in Serie A since joining Bologna from Genk in 2022, including 29 in the most recent campaign.