Norway gears up for a crucial World Cup round of 32 match against Ivory Coast today, with hopes pinned on the return of their star players Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard to the starting line-up.

The stakes are high in Dallas, as both teams aim for a spot in the last 16, where a daunting tie against Brazil awaits the victor. Despite the intensity of the matchup, neither side can underestimate the other.

This tournament marks Norway's first appearance in the World Cup finals since 1998. They managed to progress from their group after:

• Thrashing Iraq
• Securing a thrilling victory against Senegal

However, they faced a setback in their final group game, suffering a 4-1 defeat to tournament favorites France. Coach Stale Solbakken opted to make 10 changes for that match, including resting Haaland and Odegaard, which mitigated the sting of the loss.

On the other hand, Ivory Coast advanced after overcoming Ecuador and Curacao, with their only defeat coming against Germany in a closely contested match that saw them concede in the final moments.

As the teams prepare to clash, fans eagerly anticipate the impact that Haaland and Odegaard will have on Norway's performance against a resilient Ivory Coast side.