Erling Haaland made his World Cup debut, scoring twice to help Norway to a 4-1 win over Iraq in Boston.
The Manchester City forward was kept quiet in the first 28 minutes – most of his chances came with a header that went over the bar – but he soon broke free when he chipped in a square ball from Wolves defender David Moller Wolfe.
It was the 11th competitive game in which he scored for Norway, since November 2024, but also his 51st international goal in just 56 games.
Aymen Hussein – who was detained and interrogated for nearly seven hours by authorities when he arrived in the US earlier this month – then performed a stunning headbutt 10 minutes later. It was Iraq’s second World Cup goal and first in 40 years.
But just before half-time, Haaland chased Zaid Tahseen’s weak pass back to goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, who was driven in front and slotted home to quickly restore Norway’s 52-goal lead.
The second half lacked the excitement of the first. At times, the tempo slowed to that of a training game. But with 14 minutes of 90 minutes to play, substitute Leo Ostigard managed to run unchallenged to meet Martin Odegaard’s corner and head home.
Leo Ostigard scored Norway’s third in Boston
And deep into stoppage time, they made it a fourth when Haaland’s towering header was turned away by the unfortunate Hussein at the far post, adding the gloss and ensuring Norway’s winning start.
The victory moved them to the top of Group I on goal difference following France’s 3-1 win over Senegal in the previous game.
Highlights from Boston
- 13: Iraq’s Ali Al-Hamadi fires over under pressure from Torbjorn Heggem.
- 20: FINISHED! Erling Haaland jumps to meet the corner but scores.
- 29: GOAL! Haaland scored his first World Cup goal by tapping in David Moller Wolfe’s ball.
- 31: OPPORTUNITY! Haaland chooses to join Alexander Sorloth instead of going it alone. His shot was blocked.
- 37: Martin Odegaard shoots wide from 20 yards.
- 39: GOAL! Aymen Hussein’s dot-themed levels.
- 43: GOAL! Haaland takes advantage of a defensive error to score the second.
- 53: Hussein meets a good cross from Ibrahim Bayesh, but can’t get a header on target.
- 65: Hussein Ali latches onto a cross, then lifts an effort into the roof of the net.
- 76: GOAL! Leo Ostigard makes a run, pounces and heads home Odegaard’s corner.
- 83: OPPORTUNITY! Haaland misses the chance to complete his hat-trick by firing straight at Jalal Hassan.
- 90+7: GOAL! Hussein’s goal extended Norway’s lead in the final seconds.
Analysis: Haaland enters the new competition easily – again
Haaland made his World Cup debut in Boston
Austrian Bundesliga, Bundesliga, Premier League, Champions League. Everywhere Erling Haaland has gone, in all the competitions he has played in, he has established himself instantly.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that one of the most feared strikers in the world would arrive at the World Cup like a duck to water.
Less than 30 minutes into his tournament debut – and his first appearance in Norway since 1998 – he was out of the lineup for a tap. Before halftime he capitalized on a bad foul and scored another. He also contributed to the fourth goal.
And all that with just 20 touches per game in Boston. That’s nothing new, but it’s a reminder of the negative impact he can have without touching the ball.
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