Iraq 1 – 4 Norway

Match Report

Erling Haaland's long-awaited World Cup debut needed exactly 29 minutes to deliver, and it never looked back from there. Norway, appearing at the tournament for the first time in decades, made an emphatic statement of intent against an Iraq side that competed but was ultimately overrun by sheer individual quality.

Haaland opened the scoring poking in from close range off David Møller Wolfe's low cross in the 29th minute, then doubled his tally before the break — chasing down a careless back-pass to goalkeeper Jalal Hassan and tapping home in the 43rd. Two goals, 43 minutes into his first-ever World Cup appearance: Haaland is now level with Kjetil Rekdal as a joint-top scorer for Norway, with the entire tournament still ahead of him.

Aymen Hussein gave Iraq brief hope, halving the deficit in the 39th minute and showing the kind of fight that suggested this wouldn't be a total mismatch. It wasn't enough. Leo Østigård restored Norway's two-goal cushion in the 76th minute, and a late, unfortunate own goal from an Iraqi defender named Hussein — no relation to the goalscorer — rounded out the scoring in the 90+6th minute.

A perfect start for Norway, and a player in Haaland who looks every bit ready to dominate this tournament the way he's dominated every league he's ever played in.

Match Timeline

• 29'⚽GOAL — Erling Haaland 🇳🇴 — Pokes in at the back post from Møller Wolfe's low cross. Norway lead 1-0.
• 39'⚽GOAL — Aymen Hussein 🇮🇶 — Iraq respond to halve the deficit. 1-1.
• 43'⚽GOAL — Erling Haaland 🇳🇴 (2nd) — Pounces on a weak back-pass to restore Norway's lead right before half-time. 1-2.
• 45'⏸️Half-Time: Iraq 1-2 Norway. Haaland already has a World Cup brace to his name.
• 76'⚽GOAL — Leo Østigård 🇳🇴 — Norway extend the lead. 1-3.
• 90+6'⚽OWN GOAL — Hussein 🇮🇶 — A late, unfortunate own goal rounds out the scoring. Final score: 1-4.

Three Things We Learned

1. Haaland Was Worth the Wait

A brace inside 43 minutes on debut. Norway have waited a generation to get back to this stage with a player like this leading the line — it already looks worth it.

2. Iraq Showed Real Fight

Hussein's goal, and the way Iraq kept competing even at 1-3, suggests this is a side that will give every group opponent a genuine game.

3. The Couch Nailed the Margin

Predicted Iraq 0-4 Norway. Got Iraq 1-4 Norway. Norway's tally exactly right, the four-goal margin exactly right — only Iraq's single late goal kept this from being a perfect call. As close as predictions get.

Player Ratings

🇳🇴 Norway

🇮🇶 Iraq

Match Stats

• Haaland WC debut goals2 (29', 43')
• Tied Norway scoring recordKjetil Rekdal
• Iraq response1 goal, 1 OG against
• VenueGillette Stadium, Foxborough

Group I — After MD1

Norway edge ahead of France on goal difference after both won their openers. Senegal and Iraq prop up the group but both showed enough — a Mbaye consolation, a Hussein consolation — to suggest this group isn't settled yet.