Ivory Coast and Norway meet in Texas in one of five fascinating Euro-African shootouts for a place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Norway are favourites after four-goal Erling Haaland led his team to impressive wins over Iraq and Senegal in Group I.
But they will not take lightly an Ivory Coast side who won their tussle with Ecuador before running Germany close in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in Group E.
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Ivory Coast vs Norway Tips Summary
Best Bet - Ivory Coast Draw No Bet @ 7/4
Alternative Bet - Franck Kessie Over 0.5 Shots on Target @ 6/5
Bet Builder - First Half Draw, Either Erling Haaland or Alexander Sorloth To Be Booked, Yahia Fofana 3+ Saves @ 12/1
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Ivory Coast vs Norway Prediction
Best Bet: Ivory Coast Draw No Bet @ 7/4
Ivory Coast have made a piece of national history by reaching the knockouts of the World Cup for the first time after three previous failures, and that should surprise no one.
This powerful, enterprising, European-based group are as good as anything on the African continent and showed that in the group stage, where they pipped Ecuador 1-0 and beat Curacao 2-0, either side of a 2-1 loss to Germany, where they gave as good as they got.
Norway did what was necessary with wins over Iraq and Senegal before Stale Solbakken rested all his stars for the dead rubber loss to France.
But this looks an over-rated group, highly dependent on the irrepressible Erling Haaland who doesn't have his Man City colleagues around him at international level.
Ivory Coast's bruising defenders can match Haaland pound for pound and while his eye for a half-chance is legendary, the Africans have so much pace and panache on the counter that they could shred a fairly basic Norwegian back line.
At the very least, have a think about backing Ivory Coast with the draw no bet safety net.
Alternative Bet: Franck Kessie Over 0.5 Shots on Target @ 6/5
Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo are the unpolished head-turners on the Ivorian counter, but Franck Kessie is clever enough to know his role.
The former AC Milan and Barcelona star, currently playing in Saudi Arabia, demonstrated a keen eye for when to hit the box as he found the net against Germany.
But then he's been doing that throughout a career which should be in one of Europe's big five leagues right now.
Take the Ivory Coast skipper to show his leadership once more and get at least one effort on target in Arlington.
Ivory Coast vs Norway Bet Builder Tip
First Half Draw
Either Erling Haaland or Alexander Sorloth To Be Booked
Yahia Fofana 3+ Saves
Pays @ 12/1
The knockout stages bring a new pressure and with it a tad more pragmatism.
A slow burner is entirely possible here with the first Bet Builder leg being the first half to end in a draw.
Haaland and Alexander Sorloth have committed eight fouls between them in the two games they have played, but not been booked for their troubles.
Up against a rugged Ivorian defence, expect the Norwegian frontmen to put themselves about and a booking for either man looks likely.
Ivory Coast keeper Yahia Fofana made two saves against modest Curacao in the last group game so can surely be expected to make three or more against Norway.
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Key Match Stats
Ivory Coast have won five of their last six matches with clean sheets in four of those wins
Both teams have scored in nine of Norway's last 10 matches
Erling Haaland has scored 55 goals since the start of last season with 12 in his last 12
The Elephants have conceded 18 corners, seven more than Norway
The Norwegians committed 35 fouls during the group phase, 12 more than Ivory Coast; indeed, only Algeria and Cape Verde committed fewer fouls than Ivory Coast
Norway were one of eight countries to pick up only one yellow card in the group stage
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
