Related videos:
Norway trounced Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday at the , marking one of the strongest debuts of the opening day in the Group I of the 2026 World Cup, with Erling Haaland as the standout player and a substitute defender who stole the spotlight in the final minutes.
The match started with Norway taking control from the very first whistle. The Scandinavians, who entered the tournament after winning all eight of their European qualifying matches with 24 points and 37 goals scored, quickly showed why they generated so much anticipation.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a goal that confirmed his form: the forward had already scored 16 goals during the qualifying process for this World Cup.
Iraq, however, did not give up. A. Hussein equalized in the 39th minute, reigniting hope for a team that was returning to the World Cup after a 40-year absence—its last participation had been in Mexico 1986—after qualifying by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff held in Monterrey on March 31, 2026.
The Iraqi joy lasted just four minutes. Haaland made his appearance again in the 43rd minute to restore Norway's lead and send both teams into halftime with a 2-1 score that clearly showed who was in control of the match.
The second half left no doubt. Norway comfortably controlled the ball—63% possession compared to Iraq's 37%—and in the 73rd minute made four simultaneous substitutions that ultimately tilted the match. One of the newcomers, defender Leo Østigård, became the unexpected star: he scored in the 76th minute and followed up with another goal in the 77th, two goals in just 60 seconds that sealed the score at a convincing 4-1.
The match statistics clearly reflect Scandinavian dominance: five shots on goal for Norway compared to just one from Iraq, five corners against two, and twelve total shots versus eleven from the Iraqis. Norway ended the match without any bookings; the only yellow card of the game was given to the Iraqi Z. Tahseen in the 86th minute.
With this result, the is led by Norway with three points and a goal difference of +3. France, which on the same day defeated Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium, shares the three points but has a goal difference of +2, placing them second based on that criterion. Senegal ends the day with zero points and -2, while Iraq occupies the last place with zero points and -3.
For Norway, returning to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998, the debut couldn't have been more promising: a resounding victory, Haaland in scoring mode, and a team that managed the game well even with the substitutes.
For Iraq, the defeat is a heavy blow, although there are two matches left to attempt a recovery: they will face France on June 22 and Senegal on June 26, two opponents who will not forgive the same defensive errors that cost them three goals this Tuesday.
Filed under: