Norway marked its long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup with a 4-1 win over Iraq on June 17, with Erling Haaland delivering the headline performance in his tournament debut.
Iraq showed early energy and made Norway work through the opening stages, but the breakthrough came in the 29th minute. David Møller Wolfe sent a low cross into the box, and Haaland slid in at the far post to score Norway’s first World Cup goal since 1998.
Iraq responded in the 39th minute through Aymen Hussein, whose header briefly brought the match level. But the equalizer lasted only four minutes. Haaland pressed goalkeeper Jalal Hassan inside the six-yard box, blocked his attempted clearance, and watched the ball rebound into the net for his second goal of the night.
Norway pulled away in the second half, with Leo Østigård heading in from a Martin Ødegaard corner before a late own goal sealed the 4-1 victory.
“It was not easy to be a debutant, you’re nervous, and to win on a not-so-good day is great,” Haaland said. “To win 4-1 on an average day is absolutely huge for all of us. It’s fantastic and I’m proud of all of us.”
Haaland Marks World Cup Debut With More History
The brace gave Haaland a perfect start to his first World Cup and pushed his Norway record to 57 goals in 51 international appearances. Already one of the most feared finishers in club football, the Manchester City striker has now brought that same scoring touch to the biggest international stage.
For Norway, the result carried even more meaning. This was the country’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, and its new generation did not just return quietly. Led by Haaland and Ødegaard, Norway opened with a statement win that suggested a new era may have finally arrived.
Norway will next face Senegal on June 23, 8:00 AM (PH time).
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