Ivory Coast vs Norway Prediction: Haaland too hot to handle for the Elephants

FIFA World Cup knockout debutants Ivory Coast, who finished runners-up to Germany in Group E, take on Group I runners-up Norway in a round-of-32 tie at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday (12pm local, 6pm BST, BBC One).

Below are my Ivory Coast vs Norway predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Wilfried Singo sat out Ivory Coast's 2-0 victory over Curacao last Thursday with a hamstring injury, making the Galatasaray defender a major doubt for Tuesday's tie with Norway. Strasbourg's Guela Doue replaced Singo at right back against Curacao and is likely to get the nod to start again from Emerse Fae.

World Cup Odds

Norway right back Julian Ryerson, who provided 15 assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund during the 2025/26 campaign, hobbled off in the 13th minute of his country's 3-2 win over Senegal with a thigh problem and was forced to miss their 4-1 defeat to France, so it's unlikely he'll make it back in time for Tuesday.

Fredrik Aursnes moved back from midfield to fill in for Ryerson against France and it's likely the Benfica man will be called upon in defence again for this knockout tie. Torino's Marcus Pedersen, who came on for Ryerson against Senegal and scored the opening goal, is another option at right back.

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting XI for their final group game, content enough with a second-place finish. The likes of Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Antonio Nusa will return to the starting lineup against Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast vs Norway Odds

Ivory Coast are 9/4 underdogs to win in regulation time on Tuesday, implying a 30.8% probability of success, while Norway are 10/11, or a 52.4% chance, to triumph in 90 minutes. The draw, which would send the tie to extra-time, is priced at 13/5.

Betfred's Price Boosts for this match include Norway to Win, Norway Most Corners & Norway Most Shots on Target at 7/2 (was 11/4).

Get Turbo Boosted odds on Ivory Coast vs Norway! (Available from 9am Tuesday)

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Player to Be Carded (Sub Switch) - Fredrik Aursnes (NOR) @ 16/5

Aursnes isn't a serial offender, picking up just four yellows across all competitions for Benfica last season, averaging 0.9 and 0.7 fouls per game, respectively, in Liga Portugal and the UEFA Champions League.

However, he's averaging 1.7 fouls per game at the World Cup, despite not committing a single foul in his country's opening game against Iraq, which they won 4-1, and coming off at half-time against Senegal.

The 30-year-old recorded four first-half fouls against Senegal, upending four different opponents, while against France, he handballed in the dying embers.

Whether he starts at right back or in midfield on Tuesday, Aursnes is likely to be in close contact with some tricky opponents.

At right back, he'd be tasked with marking in-demand RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who looks like he could be off to Paris Saint-Germain this summer for a fee north of £100m. Diomande was fouled four times in the group stage and is a tricky player to deal with due to his speed and skills on the ball.

In the Ivory Coast midfield, meanwhile, is Trabzonspor's Christ Inao Oulai, who was fouled five times in the group stage, despite only starting one game. The 20-year-old averaged two fouls won per game in last season's Turkish Super Lig and could pose Aursnes big problems, too.

Betfred's Sub Switch rolls your bet to the oncoming substitute, so you stay in the game, even when your player doesn’t.

Player to Score (Sub Switch) - Erling Haaland (NOR) @ 4/6

I was tempted to back Haaland 'Two Or More' in the Multi Scorers market, with the Manchester City striker having bagged a brace in each of his group-stage outings, a 4-1 win over Iraq and a 3-2 victory over Senegal, before he was rested against France.

However, I'll respect Ivory Coast's solid defensive record this calendar year, with just six goals conceded in eight games, and five clean sheets in that period, which includes two in the group stage against Ecuador (1-0) and Curacao (2-0).

Still, it's difficult to back against Haaland scoring at least once on Tuesday, and 4/6 is still a good enough price to make me bite here.

The 25-year-old is already Norway's all-time top goalscorer, with his double against Senegal taking him up to 59 goals in 52 appearances, and he looks set to make the Elephants his latest victim.