BOSTON 16 June 2026 – Norway marked their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup with a dominant 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I at Gillette Stadium. Erling Haaland stole the show on his World Cup debut, netting a first-half brace as the Scandinavians cruised to all three points.
The match, played in front of a passionate crowd with strong Norwegian support, saw Norway control proceedings from the start. Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute, finishing clinically to give his side a deserved lead. Iraq responded bravely ten minutes later when Aymen Hussein powered home a header to level the score at 1-1.
However, Haaland restored Norway’s advantage just before half-time with his second goal in the 43rd minute, showcasing his predatory instincts inside the box. The second half belonged largely to Norway, who extended their lead in the 76th minute through Leo Østigård’s powerful header from a corner.
In stoppage time, Norway added a fourth when a delivery from the right was headed back across goal by Haaland, leading to an own goal by Iraq’s Aymen Hussein (alternatively credited in some reports as a goal by Kristian Thorstvedt).
Match Statistics (Key Highlights)
- Final Score: Iraq 1-4 Norway
- Goals:
- Iraq: Aymen Hussein (39′)
- Norway: Erling Haaland (29′, 43′), Leo Østigård (76′), Aymen Hussein (90’+6′ OG)
- Norway dominated possession and created multiple chances, outshooting Iraq significantly.
- Martin Ødegaard pulled the strings in midfield, while the Norwegian defense remained solid after the early equalizer.
This result gives Norway an ideal start in Group I, which also features strong sides like France and Senegal. For Iraq, who qualified as one of the last teams, the defeat highlights the challenge of facing top European nations at this level, though their first-half response showed moments of quality.
Norway’s next match will be a tougher test against one of the group favorites, while Iraq will look to bounce back and secure their first points.
Full highlights and post-match analysis are available on FIFA’s official platforms and major sports networks.
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