Norway, making its return to a major tournament final phase after a twenty-eight-year absence, made a winning debut on Tuesday in the 2026 soccer World Cup. The Nordic team managed to beat Iraq with a final score of 4-1, powered significantly by a brilliant brace from star striker Erling Haaland during an intense and highly anticipated Group I match.
In Foxborough, the clinical Manchester City forward found the back of the net to score the first two goals for the Nordics in the 29th and 43rd minutes. Leo Ostigard added a third goal in the 76th minute, while Iraq’s Aymen Hussein scored an own goal in the 90+6th minute, after having previously scored for his own team in the 39th minute.
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In the Group I standings, the Norwegians currently occupy first place with the same three points as France but hold a superior goal difference over the French squad. France won their respective opening match against Senegal by a score of 3-1, leaving the African side with zero points alongside the Iraqis, who have now suffered four total defeats in World Cup history.
