Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in Group I opener with Haaland scoring twice and claiming the game’s Man of the Match accolade on his World Cup debut, Yankee Scores reports.
Haaland Opens the Account
Norway got the first goal of the game in the 29th minute when Sander Berge picked out David Møller Wolfe on the left, and his low cross found Haaland at the back post.
28 års ventetid er over 🇳🇴 Kampen er i gang i Boston! Heia Norge! pic.twitter.com/IOanTJ2ZHY
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) June 16, 2026
Iraq Tried To Fight Back
Iraq also tried to get back in the game. They hit back on the counter in the 39th minute with a header from Aymen Hussein; A beautiful goal but it didn’t last for long
In the 43rd minute, Iran’s goalkeeper Jalal Hassan received a weak back pass and tried to clear it, only to boot the ball straight into Haaland and the ball went in
Norway owned the Second Half
Iraq were out searching for a way back into the game after the break but it never really came. Norway kept their grip on the match tight
The third came in the 76th minute when Ødegaard swung in a corner and Leo Østigård soared above the rest to head it home.
Haaland’s late hat-trick attempt was well blocked by Hassan but he couldn’t stop the fourth. It was Aymen Hussein himself that scored an own goal deep in stoppage time. Iraq’s tough night ends with a painful finish.
Norway face Senegal on Tuesday June 23 while Iraq will face France on June 22.
