The Iraq Norway World Cup 2026 Group I clash in Boston marked a historic return to the global stage for both nations and it was Erling Haaland who stole the show. Erling Haaland scored his first World Cup goals with a brace as Norway started their campaign with a 4-1 win over Iraq at Boston Stadium, in a match that saw both countries return to the World Cup for the first time this century.
Haaland’s Historic Debut Bookends a Spirited Iraqi Fightback
Norway took the lead after 29 minutes as Sander Berge played David Moller Wolfe in on the left of the penalty area, and his low cross was turned in at the back post by Haaland. It was the Manchester City striker’s 51st senior international goal in just 56 appearances, and his 11th competitive appearance in which he’d scored for Norway dating back to November 2024.
Iraq, far from overawed, responded almost immediately. Iraq dealt a sucker-punch on the counter attack after 39 minutes Ali Jasim played a clever reverse pass to Amir Al-Ammari, and from his cross, Aymen Hussein planted a header low into the bottom corner. Hussein had reportedly been held and questioned for around seven hours by US authorities when he arrived in the country earlier this month, making his leveller all the more meaningful for the Iraqi camp.
The equaliser proved short-lived. Iraq were level for just four minutes, as goalkeeper Jalal Hassan failed to deal with a weak back pass and only succeeded in launching his clearance against Haaland, who pounced to restore Norway’s lead before the break. Substitute Leo Østigård, three-and-a-half minutes after his second-half arrival, extended the lead left all alone at a corner to stride towards goal and power a header past Hassan in the 76th minute. Hassan denied Haaland his hat-trick with a good close-range save, but Iraq’s misery was compounded in stoppage time when Ajer controlled the ball on the right and floated a delivery to the back post; Haaland headed it back across goal, and Thorstvedt’s flick was inadvertently converted into the net by Hussein for an unfortunate own goal.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group I Preview: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway →
A Record Night for Norway and Reasons for Optimism in Iraq
Norway’s four-goal performance marked the first time they had scored three or more goals in a single match across their history at either the FIFA World Cup or European Championships, in 12 matches combined. It was also Norway’s first World Cup appearance since 1998, making Haaland’s instant impact on the biggest stage feel symbolically appropriate for a nation that has waited decades for this moment.
For Iraq, the defeat carries some genuine positives. Iraq scored just their second-ever World Cup goal, with the other coming in a 2-1 defeat to Belgium back in 1986, and created more than enough chances to have won the match 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.
Norway face Senegal next in the early hours of Tuesday June 23, while Iraq face France on June 22 a daunting assignment against the side that, earlier in the day, saw Kylian Mbappé score twice in a 3-1 win over Senegal to become France’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.
Full match stats and highlights are available at FIFA.com.
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