Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway ended a 28-year wait for a finals appearance, overwhelming Iraq in their Group I opener at Gillette Stadium
Norway announced their return to the World Cup stage in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, defeating Iraq 4-1 at the sold-out Gillette Stadium as Erling Haaland scored a clinical first-half brace on his tournament debut.
The match ended Norway’s 28-year wait for a World Cup appearance, their last having come in 1998, while Iraq were ending a 40-year qualification drought dating back to 1986. The two nations had never met at any senior level prior to this fixture.
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Norway asserted control from the outset, operating in an aggressive 4-3-3 system and dominating 63 percent of possession. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when David Møller Wolfe delivered a perfectly weighted low cross into the penalty area, allowing Haaland to latch onto the ball and calmly slide home his first-ever World Cup goal.
Iraq refused to back down. In the 39th minute, midfield anchor Amir Al-Ammari floated an exquisite cross into the box, where talisman Aymen Hussein rose highest to thunder a header past Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. The goal sent the thousands of traveling Iraqi fans into sheer ecstasy and marked only the second World Cup goal in Iraq’s entire footballing history.
The parity lasted only four minutes. Just before the halftime break, Arsenal playmaker Martin Ødegaard carved open Iraq’s backline to set up Haaland for a clinical second goal, restoring Norway’s advantage.
Ståle Solbakken made tactical changes in the 72nd minute, sending on heavy reinforcements. Just three minutes later, newly introduced defender Leo Østigård connected with a Julian Ryerson free kick to thump home a header. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Kristian Thorstvedt capitalised on defensive exhaustion to smash home a fourth.
Norway finished with 13 shots, four on target, while Iraq managed 11 shots, seven on target. Norwegian passing accuracy stood at 90 percent compared to Iraq’s 83 percent.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the result cements Norway in a strong position in Group I, trailing leaders France only on goal difference. For Iraq, the fight shown by Hussein Ali and Merchas Doski down the flanks offered encouragement, but late tracking errors allowed Norway’s bench depth to run away with the scoreline
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Predictable Lineups – Bef0re Kick0ff
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- Iraq (4-2-3-1): Talib; H. Ali, Sulaka, Tahseen, Doski; Al-Ammari, Iqbal; Bayesh, Jasim, Amyn; Hussein.
- Norway (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Ødegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sørloth, Haaland, Nusa.
⏳ Head-to-Head History & Context
Last Updated on June 17, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
