Erling Haaland was inevitably the star of the show in Norway’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, helping secure a 4-1 win over Iraq at Boston Stadium.
Erling Haaland scored a brace on his World Cup debut as Norway overcame a spirited display from Iraq to win 4-1 at Boston Stadium.
The Manchester City striker struck either side of Aymen Hussein‘s header for Iraq before Leo Østigård and an own goal from Hussein secured all three points, with Norway joining France on three points in Group I after the first round of fixtures.
It was Iraq who had the better of the early chances, with Hussein heading over from close range before Ali Al Hamadi fired too high from the edge of the box.
However, it was Norway who broke the deadlock in the 29th minute as Haaland was on hand at the back post to poke in from David Møller Wolfe’s low cross.
Iraq were level 10 minutes later as Hussein powered a header from Amir Al Ammari’s centre past Ørjan Nyland, but they were behind again before half-time as Haaland closed down Jalal Hassan and deflected the goalkeeper’s clearance into the back of the net.
Graham Arnold’s side still squandered three chances to equalise before the break; Ibrahim Bayesh saw his effort blocked by Moller Wolfe, Al Hamadi was thwarted by a last-ditch challenge from Kristoffer Ajer and Akam Hashim volleyed narrowly over the bar.
The second half produced fewer opportunities, with Norway’s first shot after the restart coming in the 76th minute, but the resulting corner from Kristian Thorstvedt’s blocked effort saw Østigård head in to double their advantage.
Haaland did have the chance to complete his hat-trick late on when pouncing on a poor back pass from Zidane Iqbal, but this time Hassan was quick off his line to close the striker down and make the save, though the striker’s header across the face of goal deep into stoppage time was inadvertently turned in by Hussein.
Erling Haaland – Who Else?
After Kylian Mbappé’s brace for France earlier on Tuesday, there was a feeling of inevitability Haaland would respond promptly in the race for the Golden Boot, which is exactly what he did.
Haaland is the first player to score multiple goals for Norway on World Cup debut; he has scored multiple goals in each of his last five competitive appearances for his country (13 goals).
The 25-year-old has also scored in his last 11 competitive appearances for Norway dating back to November 2024, a run he will look to continue ahead of crucial games against Senegal and France in Group I.
Although Norway won the expected goals (xG) battle 2.53 to 0.77 and scored four goals in a single match at a major tournament for the first time, Stale Solbakken knows his side must be better if they want to finish top of the group.
Iraq will certainly take positives from this encounter, scoring just their second World Cup goal, with the other coming in a 2-1 defeat to Belgium in 1986, and creating more than enough chances to win in Boston.
An error while playing out from the back before half-time proved costly in the end, but Iraq have shown they can certainly challenge for third place in the group.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Iraq vs Norway stats from their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I meeting at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 16 June.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Iraq 1-4 Norway: Post-Match Opta Facts
- Norway’s four-goal performance marks the first time they have scored three or more goals in a match across their history in the FIFA World Cup and European Championships (12th match).
- Norway returned to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence with a win. They also won their first match in the competition after a 56-year absence between 1938 and 1994, recording a 1-0 win over Mexico in Washington, D.C.
- Norway are unbeaten in four all-time FIFA World Cup matches against opponents from outside Europe (W3 D1).
- Iraq has lost all four of their FIFA World Cup appearances, with this being their first defeat by more than a one-goal margin.
- Erling Haaland is the first player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match for Norway.
- Erling Haaland scored both of Norway’s first-half goals as they led at half-time of a FIFA World Cup match for the first time. They scored just once in the first half of their previous eight matches in the competition.
- Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last 11 competitive appearances for Norway, including scoring multiple goals in each of the last five. He has scored at least one goal in 17 of his last 20 competitive appearances for Norway dating back to the start of 2023.
- Aymen Hussein scored Iraq’s second all-time goal in the FIFA World Cup. During AFC qualifiers, he totalled 12 goals, more than twice as many as any of his teammates.
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