Boston, June 17: Norway kicked off the FIFA World Cup 2026 with an impressive victory, defeating Iraq 4-1 in a Group I match at Boston Stadium.
Erling Haaland, making his World Cup debut, was the star of the match, scoring two goals. Leo Østigård also contributed with a goal. This match was particularly significant as both Norway and Iraq returned to the world stage after a long absence. From the outset, Norway displayed aggressive gameplay.
In the 14th minute, goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland initiated a move that led to David Møller Wolfe delivering a superb cross from the left flank, which Haaland converted into a goal, giving Norway a 1-0 lead. At 35 years and 279 days, Nyland became the oldest player to represent Norway in a World Cup.
Iraq quickly responded, scoring their first goal of the tournament just ten minutes later. Veteran forward Ayman Hussein became only the second Iraqi player to score in a World Cup, heading in a brilliant cross from Amir Al-Amari. However, just before halftime, Haaland capitalized on a mix-up between Iraqi defender Zaid Tahseen and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan to net his second goal, extending Norway’s lead to 2-1.
Norway continued to dominate in the second half. Substitute Leo Østigård scored with a powerful header from a corner kick, making the score 3-1. After this goal, Iraq struggled to mount a comeback, failing to find the net despite several attempts. In the closing moments, an own goal from Hussein sealed a comfortable victory for Norway, placing them at the top of Group I.
After the match, Haaland expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that while his first goal was good, the second was even better. He praised the team’s overall performance, noting that this was just the beginning and that upcoming matches would be more challenging. Following this win, Norway leads the standings due to a superior goal difference over France, while Iraq and Senegal must improve in their next matches.
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