FIFA WC 2026: Haaland leads Norway to 4-1 victory against Iraq

Boston: Erling Haaland marked his FIFA World Cup debut with a brace as Norway cruised to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I on Wednesday at Boston Stadium.

Norway struck first when David Møller Wolfe’s left side cross found Haaland, who slid in at the back post to finish. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who became Norway’s oldest World Cup participant at 35 years and 279 days, had earlier orchestrated play from the back with a 14 pass sequence that initiated the move.

Iraq responded ten minutes later through veteran Aymen Hussein, who met Amir Al Ammari’s chipped cross and headed past Nyland to level. Haaland restored Norway’s lead after capitalising on a defensive error between Zaid Tahseen and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, putting the hosts ahead at the interval — Norway’s first-ever halftime lead at a World Cup.

Early in the second half, substitute Leo Østigård made an immediate impact. Barely three-and-a-half minutes after coming on, Østigård attacked an unmarked corner and powered a header into the net to make it 3-1. A late own goal by Hussein wrapped up the scoring and secured a comfortable win for Norway.

Haaland joins Folarin Balogun, Yasin Ayari, Kai Havertz, Elijah Just and Kylian Mbappé as one of the early double scorers at FIFA World Cup 2026. After the opening round of matches, Ståle Solbakken’s Norway top Group I on goal difference.

“My first goal was nice, the second even nicer,” Haaland said. “I’m proud of everyone that we could get off to a good start. We know though that the next games will be even tougher and we will have to play even better.”

(Inputs from IANS)