Norway will make their long-awaited return to the World Cup when they face Iraq at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Norwegians have endured a long and painful 28-year absence from football's global showpiece.
However, they forced their way back onto the biggest stage in emphatic fashion, winning all eight of their qualifying matches, including home and away victories over Italy.
As such, Stale Solbakken's side come into the tournament as many observers' dark horses.
However, the Lions have been drawn into a particularly competitive group, where they will face both France and Senegal, as well as their opening opponents, Iraq.
Iraq became the last team to qualify for the tournament after defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff, booking only their second World Cup appearance and their first since 1986.
How the bookies view it: Norway fancied to start strongly
Norway enter their first World Cup in almost three decades as heavy 1/5 favourites with bet365.
Iraq are as big as 11/1 with the same bookmaker to mark their return to the world stage with a victory, while a share of the spoils at Gillette Stadium is also considered unlikely at 6/1.
Head to head: History book blank
With the two sides from different continents and neither a regular presence at major tournaments over the years, it is no surprise that Iraq and Norway will meet for the first time ever on Tuesday night.
Players to watch: Haaland to hit the ground running?
Erling Haaland is a short-priced 2/5 to score anytime, but he can be backed to find the net in a Norway win with under six match goals at a more attractive 4/5 with bet365.
Iraq will look to Aymen Hussein for inspiration on Tuesday night after he notched nine goals during qualifying. The 30-year-old forward is as big as 5/1 with bet365 to find the net.
Predicted line-ups
The aforementioned Hussein was reportedly held for questioning by immigration officials for seven hours upon Iraq's arrival in the USA, but he has since been granted entry into the country and is available for selection.
As for Norway, they come into their Group I opener with a fully fit squad to choose from.
Iraq: Hassan; Sulaka, Doski, Putros, Ali; Al-Ammari, Bayesh, Iqbal; Jasim, Hussein, Farji
Norway: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Ostigard, Holmgren Pedersen; Berge, Thorstvedt, Odegaard; Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth
Anything else catch the eye?
As mentioned, Norway are short-priced favourites here, but siding with them to win alongside a clean sheet does bolster the odds to 4/5 with bet365.
That looks good value given Iraq have failed to score in each of their three defeats in the lead-up to the tournament, blanking against Algeria, Jordan and Venezuela last time out.
Backing Norway to win by at least two goals, with the aforementioned Haaland on the scoresheet also catches the eye at 10/11 with bet365.
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