Haaland stars as Norway beats Iraq 4-1 in opener

Norway beats – Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-1 win over Iraq in Group I at Boston Stadium. The result put Norway atop the group on goal-difference tiebreakers, while Iraq—despite matching Norway in attempts—will need to sha

Boston Stadium felt like it was holding its breath before Norway finally broke through again. By the time Kristian Thorstvedt finished a late burst with a goal in stoppage time, the scoreline had turned Norway’s early pressure and Haaland’s star power into a 4-1 Group I statement over Iraq.

The victory landed Norway its first World Cup win in 28 years, and it also pulled the country to the top of the Group I standings. Norway is tied with France on points, but owns the goal-difference tiebreaker after France beat Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day.

Erling Haaland’s impact was immediate and relentless. The 25-year-old striker was a force throughout Tuesday’s game. repeatedly getting scoring chances in the first half thanks to his hustle. He scored two goals for Norway—his first came on a perfectly placed cross from David Møller Wolfe. and his second was the match’s decisive moment. Haaland chased down a poorly hit back pass, then slid the ball past Iraq’s goalkeeper, Jalal Hassan.

Norway’s control didn’t last in the moments that mattered most for Iraq. The Lions of Mesopotamia responded quickly after falling behind. Just nine minutes after Haaland opened the scoring. Aymen Hussain put a header just inside the post and past Norwegian goalie Ørjan Nyland to tie the game 1-1. Iraq then nearly leveled again later in the first half. getting a point-blank shot near Norway’s net that failed to find the finish.

After that 1-1 swing, Norway regained the lead quickly. Just five minutes after Iraq’s equalizer, Haaland intercepted an Iraq back-pass just before it reached Hassan. From there, he “easily” placed the ball home, sending Norway into halftime leading 2-1. The sequence left Iraq within reach—but frustrated. It was the back-pass that allowed Haaland’s second goal. and Iraq will be left wondering how different the night might have looked if that clearance had been controlled better.

Late in the match, Norway also made sure the lead didn’t slip away. With the game at 3-1 in late stoppage time, Thorstvedt put the ball into the back of the net to seal the win. The match reached a minimum of six minutes of stoppage time during that closing stretch.

A look at Group I after the first round of matches shows how quickly the night changed the math for both teams:

Norway – 3 points (+3 goal difference)
France – 3 points (+2 goal difference)
Senegal – 0 points (-2 goal difference)
Iraq – 0 points (-3 goal difference)

The standings mean Norway’s next game could decide its path. Norway will prepare for its second group stage match against Senegal. a fixture that offers an opportunity to potentially clinch passage to the knockout stage. Iraq. meanwhile. will take its next step against France. which will mark another test for a team that is still searching for its first World Cup point.

Iraq can still take positives from the way the match felt on the field. The teams ended up matching in attempts at goal—11 for each. But the difference was ruthless: Norway put two attempts on target while Iraq managed just one, and the on-target chances during Tuesday’s game all resulted in goals.

There was also tension in the stoppage-time finishing. but earlier drama came from the way Norway’s game plan shifted after key moments. Norway brought on fresh legs while protecting its lead. making four substitutions as it tried to hang onto the advantage against Iraq: Kristian Thorstvedt replaced Fredrik Aursnes. Oscar Bobb replaced Alexander Sorloth. Andreas Schjelderup replaced Antonio Nusa. and Leo Ostigard replaced David Moller Wolfe.

The match featured early and mid-game shifts, too. Norway had an assist on the record as well: Ødegaard logged his first-ever World Cup game with an assist on Leo Østigard’s goal. Aymen Hussain’s header equalizer came after Norway’s first goal, and after Norway scored again, Iraq made changes immediately. Mohanad Ali replaced Ibrahim Bayesh, and Iraq also replaced Ali Jasim with Ahmed Qasim just after the hydration break.

Cards and substitutions came in the rhythm of a fast-moving contest. Late in the first half, Zaid Tahseen received a yellow card after a hard tackle of a Norwegian player; he was promptly booked, marking the first card of Tuesday’s Group I match.

Even before kickoff, the tournament setting carried its own texture. At Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, both teams took the field after the anthems for Norway and Iraq were played. A majority of the seats were full. though there were empty sections noticeable in the stands compared with Scotland’s sold-out win over Haiti. The crowd leaned heavily toward Norway, with Norwegian supporters appearing to outnumber Iraqi fans stationed behind one of the nets.

Erling Haaland’s jersey spelling also drew attention among fans. “Erling Braut Haaland” was printed on the back, a choice made to pay homage to both of his parents—“Braut” is his mother’s maiden name while “Haaland” is his father’s surname.

There was one brief off-field interruption, too. During halftime. FIFA volunteers spent a large chunk of time cleaning up after a malfunctioning sprinkler dumped a puddle of water on the edge of one of the 18-yard boxes. The issue appeared addressed. but the wet spot was in front of the goal toward which Iraq would shoot in the second half.

The game schedule and tournament stakes were already building across Group I. France entered the night with 3 points after beating Senegal 3-1. For Norway and Iraq, the opening result matters: if Norway vs. Iraq produces a winner. the victor would be tied atop Group I with France. with goal difference deciding the top spot. A draw would have left Norway and Iraq tied for second place.

Norway’s journey back to the World Cup has carried its own weight. Norway hasn’t appeared in the World Cup since 1998. That year. the team advanced out of the group stage for the first time in the country’s history. beating Brazil and drawing with Scotland and Morocco before being eliminated in the knockout stage via a 1-0 loss to Italy. Tuesday’s win marks Norway’s fourth appearance at the tournament.

Iraq arrived with an even longer search for a breakthrough at the sport’s biggest stage. Iraq qualified for the 1986 World Cup but failed to win a game in that tournament. In their lone previous World Cup appearance. Iraq finished with 0 points after losing in the group stage. and the country has only ever scored one World Cup goal while conceding four.

The refereeing assignment added another layer of novelty. Pierre Atcho was set to referee the Group I clash between Norway and Iran at the 2026 World Cup, and he has never before officiated a World Cup match. He is 33 years old and has been on FIFA’s International Referees List since 2018.

For now, Norway’s message is clear. Haaland’s two goals carried the scoring, and a late finish backed it up. The score at 4-1 means the next match isn’t just about momentum—it’s about whether Norway can turn a statement opener into a march toward the knockout stage.

Norway vs Iraq Haaland 2026 World Cup Group I standings Boston Stadium Erling Braut Haaland Jalal Hassan Ørjan Nyland David Møller Wolfe Kristian Thorstvedt