Erling Haaland had waited his entire career for a World Cup stage, and Norway’s long-awaited return to the tournament did not disappoint, with the striker scoring twice on his debut in a 4-1 win over Iraq at Gillette Stadium that announced one of the tournament’s most feared attacks.
Haaland Arrives, Right on Schedule
Norway broke through in the 29th minute when Oscar Bobb/Antonio Moller Wolfe’s left-wing cross found Haaland unmarked at the back post for a simple tap-in — his first-ever World Cup goal, delivered with the kind of positioning that has made him one of the most efficient finishers in the world. Iraq responded six minutes before the break, Aymen Hussein rising to meet Ali Al-Ammari’s floated delivery with a towering header to level the score and give Norway’s first World Cup appearance since 1998 an unexpectedly nervy edge. Haaland answered immediately, closing down Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan in the 43rd minute and pouncing on the loose ball to restore the lead before halftime.
Norway Pulls Away in the Final Quarter
With the lead back in hand, Norway controlled the second half more comfortably, and substitute Leo Østigård put the result out of reach in the 76th minute, rising unchallenged to head home a Martin Ødegaard corner. Deep into stoppage time, Haaland nearly completed a hat trick with a towering header of his own, only for the unfortunate Hussein to turn the ball over his own line attempting to clear it — a cruel final twist for an Iraqi side that had competed well for long stretches before the scoreline ran away from them.
What This Means for Group I
The result gave Norway a strong start to Group I, a group that also includes France, who beat Senegal in the day’s other fixture. With Haaland already on the scoresheet twice and Ødegaard pulling the strings from midfield, Norway head into the rest of the group stage as one of the format’s most dangerous attacking sides, while Iraq — appearing in just their second World Cup ever — will need a response to keep their own knockout-stage hopes alive.
FAQ
How many goals did Erling Haaland score against Iraq?
Haaland scored twice, in the 29th and 43rd minutes, on his World Cup debut as Norway won 4-1.
What was the final score of Norway vs Iraq at the 2026 World Cup?
Norway won 4-1, with goals from Erling Haaland (two), Leo Østigård, and an own goal by Aymen Hussein, who had earlier scored Iraq’s only goal.
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