Iraq flags line Boston streets ahead of World Cup match against Norway

BASRA, Iraq — BOSTON — The Iraqi national football team arrived in Boston ahead of its 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Norway, with main roads, stadium walls and gas stations across the city decorated with Iraqi and Norwegian flags. The decorations, organized by the Boston municipality, include large ball-shaped displays bearing both nations' flags around the stadium and central areas, while gas stations have been lined with Iraqi flags. Iraq will face Norway on Wednesday night in the tournament's first match, played in a group that also includes France and Senegal. Both teams are looking to open their World Cup campaigns with a strong result. Preparations in Boston reflect the scale of attention surrounding the fixture, as the Iraqi squad begins its World Cup campaign on the road against a European side ranked among the tournament's more established programs.