He had waited his whole career for this. At club level, Erling Haaland is the most feared striker on the planet. But today he scored his first goal at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Haaland scored twice in a 4–1 demolition of Iraq that was comfortable in the end, dramatic in the middle, and entirely dominated by Norway’s number nine.
Group I now looks increasingly like a two-horse race between Norway and France. Iraq, despite a brief and spirited leveller, were outclassed for long stretches of the match. Norway are three points up and already looking like the kind of side that could cause problems deep into this tournament.
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Haaland Opens the Account (29′)
Norway were patient in the opening half hour. They moved the ball calmly, probed for openings, and gradually drew Iraq’s defensive shape into uncomfortable territory. The breakthrough arrived through fourteen passes — a composed, methodical team move that ended with David Møller Wolfe blazing down the left flank and drilling a low cross into the six-yard box. Haaland arrived at pace, slid in at the back post, and poked the ball past goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
World Cup debut. World Cup goal. Haaland barely celebrated — there was a sense that he expected nothing less.
Iraq Hits Back — Hussein Levels (39′)
Iraq refused to fold. Ten minutes after going behind, they drew level through a move of genuine quality. Martin Ødegaard, uncharacteristically, gave the ball away deep in his own half. Iraq punished him immediately. Amir Al Ammari picked up possession on the left wing and delivered a chipped cross of near-perfect weight and trajectory. Aymen Hussein, the veteran Iraqi forward, rose above the Norwegian defence and hammered a header into the net. 1–1.
For a few minutes, Iraq believed. At the Boston Stadium, the away supporters made noise. The scoreline was level. The match was genuinely open.
Haaland’s Second — A Gift from Iraq (43′)
It lasted four minutes. Iraqi defender Zaid Tahseen, under pressure near his own penalty area, played a weak backpass that left goalkeeper Hassan with no room. Hassan’s rushed clearance cannoned directly off Haaland’s chest and ricocheted into the net. The cleanest of own goals — yet technically, and cruelly, it went down as Haaland’s second of the match.
Norway went into halftime 2–1 up, with Haaland having scored twice without ever really needing to work for the second. Iraq had their goal, their moment of belief, but a defensive error had gifted Norway the advantage back within minutes.
Østigård Ends the Contest (76′)
The second half was a quieter affair. Norway controlled possession and Iraq struggled to replicate the urgency of their first-half leveller. The third goal arrived in the 76th minute, and it was a set-piece of complete simplicity. Martin Ødegaard — redeeming himself entirely after his first-half error — delivered an inswinging corner from the right. Leo Østigård, unmarked and free at the back post, got above the Iraqi defence with a towering leap and planted a powerful header past Hassan. He had been on the pitch for barely three and a half minutes.
At 3–1, the match was settled. Iraq could not produce the sustained pressure needed to claw back two goals against a Norwegian side that was now managing the game confidently.
Hussein’s Own Goal Completes the Rout (90+6′)
The final act was more chaos than craft. Deep into stoppage time, a header across the box found Kristian Thorstvedt challenging for the ball near the goal line. Hassan and Iraqi defender Akam Hashim became completely entangled. In the confusion, the ball crossed the line. The goal was credited to Aymen Hussein as an own goal, as the ball deflected off him while he was retreating. He is the same player who had scored Iraq’s equaliser in the first half.
Norway 4–1 Iraq. The scoreline was emphatic and, on balance, fair.
What This Means
Norway move to the top of Group I alongside France, both on three points. Their second match is against Senegal on June 22 IST. Iraq, now bottom of the group without a point, face France in their next outing — a match they will need to treat as a must-win or near-must-win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
For Haaland, the only conversation is about how many he will end up with at this tournament. Two goals on debut at a FIFA World Cup 2026™ is a statement. The question now is whether he can back it up.
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