Haaland Scores Twice on World Cup Debut as Norway Thrash Iraq 4-1
Erling Haaland finally got his World Cup moment, scoring twice on his tournament debut as Norway swept aside Iraq 4-1 in Group I at Boston Stadium. The Manchester City striker led a Norwegian side returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence, and Haaland wasted no time announcing himself on the biggest stage of all in front of an expectant crowd.
Haaland’s Brace Decides It
Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute to break his World Cup duck, then pounced on a defensive error to make it 2-0 just before half-time in the 43rd minute. Iraq refused to fold, with striker Aymen Hussein heading one back in the 39th minute to briefly revive the contest. But Norway reasserted control after the break: Leo Ostigard headed home in the 76th minute, before Hussein turned the ball into his own net deep in stoppage time to round off a 4-1 win. Having scored 16 goals in eight qualifiers, Haaland carried his ruthless form straight into the finals without missing a beat.
Norway’s Golden Generation Delivers
Under coach Stale Solbakken, Norway showed structure, power and maturity. Beyond their number nine, the midfield marshalled by Martin Odegaard looked composed and progressive, transitioning smoothly between defense and attack. This is proof that Norway are far more than a one-man team. For a footballing nation that waited almost three decades to return, this opening win meant far more than three points — it reignited the passion of an entire country.Their fans, starved of World Cup football for so long, finally have a team capable of dreaming big on this stage.
Iraq Show Fight in Defeat
Despite the heavy scoreline, Iraq were not without bright moments. Hussein’s goal showcased their threat on the counter, and their work-rate in midfield was commendable. Against clearly superior opposition, the Asian side will need to cut out the defensive errors that proved costly if they are to take points from their remaining fixtures.The lessons learned here could prove valuable for a young squad still finding its feet at this level.
Group I: Level With France
The victory leaves Norway level on three points with France, who beat Senegal 3-1 on the same day, with Norway top on goal difference. A potential meeting between the two could decide first place in Group I. Iraq will look to bounce back against Senegal. Every point will matter in what already looks like a tightly contested group. Track every result on our live scores page, and explore our player profiles for more on the tournament’s stars.
