Haaland Scores Twice on World Cup Debut as Norway Beat Iraq

Erling Haaland announced himself on the World Cup stage with two goals on his tournament debut as Norway defeated Iraq 2-1 in Boston, ending a 28-year absence from football’s grandest competition in emphatic fashion.

The Manchester City striker, who now has 57 goals in 51 international appearances, needed just 58 seconds to open his account. David Moller Wolfe delivered a low cross from the left and Haaland, arriving at the far post with predatory timing, slid the ball past Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan to give Norway the lead inside the opening minute.

Iraq, making only their second World Cup appearance, refused to be cowed. Amir Al-Ammari swung in a dangerous cross on 39 minutes and Aymen Hussein rose to power a downward header beyond the Norwegian defence, restoring parity and igniting hopes among the Lions of Mesopotamia’s travelling support.

Those hopes were short-lived. Four minutes later, Haaland charged down a clearance from Hassan, and the ball rebounded off the Norwegian and into the net. It was a goal born of persistence and instinct rather than finesse, but it proved decisive. Norway led 2-1 at the interval and never relinquished their advantage.

A Night of Milestones

The second half produced further drama. Substitute Leo Ostigard headed home from a Martin Odegaard corner on 76 minutes to extend Norway’s lead, before Aymen Hussein inadvertently turned Haaland’s looping stoppage-time header into his own net to complete the scoring at 4-1. The scoreline, however, somewhat flattered Norway; Iraq competed with courage and discipline throughout, and the match was far closer than the final tally suggests.

Haaland, 25, became the first player to score twice on a World Cup debut for Norway. He was denied a hat-trick when Hassan produced a late block, but the striker’s performance confirmed what many had long suspected: that he is capable of translating his extraordinary club form to the international stage.

The occasion also produced a historic moment of a different kind. Zidan Iqbal, introduced as a second-half substitute for Iraq, became the first player of Pakistani heritage to appear in a men’s World Cup match — a milestone that resonated far beyond the confines of the stadium in Boston.

Norway’s Return

For Norway, the victory carried significance that extended beyond three points. The country had not qualified for a World Cup since France 1998, when a side featuring Tore Andre Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reached the group stage before falling short. A generation of Norwegian footballers had grown up watching the tournament from home. That drought is now over, and the manner of its ending — with Haaland at his devastating best — offers genuine cause for optimism about how far this team can go.

The result also represented the first victory by a European side against an Asian Football Confederation opponent at the 2026 tournament, after five previous attempts had produced draws or defeats for UEFA representatives. It was a statistic that underlined the improving standards of Asian football, even as Norway’s superior quality ultimately told.

Iraq, for their part, remain without a World Cup point, but their performance suggested that breakthrough may not be far away. The team defended resolutely for long spells and created enough chances to have taken something from the match. Their campaign is far from over.

As the 2026 World Cup gathers momentum, the tournament continues to captivate audiences across the globe. In Ghana, shopping centres have been transformed into vibrant fan zones as supporters gather to follow every twist of the competition, while the national team’s own preparations have been complicated by the absence of Thomas Partey, whose visa denial was upheld by a Canadian federal court.

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