Ivory Coast and Norway are set to meet at Dallas Stadium in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with both nations arriving at this knockout tie on contrasting trajectories.

Ivory Coast's route to the last 32

The Elephants navigated Group E with real character. They opened their campaign with a 1-0 home victory over Ecuador on 15 June, before suffering a 1-2 defeat to Germany on 20 June. Ivory Coast then sealed their place in the knockout rounds with a convincing 2-0 win against Curacao on 25 June.

Their pre-tournament form also showed promise. Ivory Coast beat France 2-1 on 4 June, defeated Scotland 1-0 on 31 March, and thrashed Korea Rep 4-0 on 28 March — a run that suggested a side in fine shape heading into the tournament.

Norway's path through Group I

Norway advanced from Group I after a mixed group-stage campaign. They began emphatically with a 4-1 demolition of Iraq on 16 June, then edged Senegal 3-2 on 23 June. Their final group match, however, ended in a 1-4 loss to France on 26 June — a result that will have given their coaching staff some cause for concern ahead of this clash.

In the months before the tournament, Norway drew 0-0 with Switzerland on 31 March, beat Sweden 3-1 on 1 June, and held Morocco to a 1-1 draw on 7 June.

What to expect at Dallas Stadium

Ivory Coast carry the momentum of an African footballing nation that has grown into the tournament, while Norway — powered by an attack capable of high scoring — will pose a significant threat. The Round of 32 fixture at Dallas Stadium promises to be a compelling encounter, with both sides having demonstrated they can find the net freely.