Erling Haaland made his long-awaited World Cup bow emphatically on Tuesday night, scoring twice as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in their Group I opener at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The result marked a triumphant return to the World Cup for Norway, which had not appeared at the tournament since 1998.
For Haaland, the moment carried enormous personal weight. The Manchester City forward had spoken openly in the lead-up to the tournament about how something had always felt “missing” without a World Cup to compete in. His country’s failure to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the European Championship two years later only deepened that sense of longing. On Tuesday, all of that waiting came to an end and he wasted no time making his mark.
Norway broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, just moments after the first-half hydration break. Antonio Nusa drove through the centre of the pitch and slipped in David Møller Wolfe down the left flank, whose driving run and low cross were converted by Haaland from close range. It was a moment that felt inevitable and the kind of predatory finish that has made the 25-year-old one of the most dangerous forwards in world football.
Iraq, appearing at the World Cup for only the second time in its history, after its debut in 1986, refused to be overawed. They rallied impressively and pulled level through a towering Aymen Hussein header that sent their sizeable contingent of supporters in the stadium into raptures. For a brief spell, the scoreline reflected the genuine competition on the pitch. But Haaland had other ideas.
Twelve minutes after his opener, the Norwegian number nine struck again. Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan attempted to play out from the back but hesitated fatally, allowing Haaland to press with characteristic aggression. Hassan could only watch as the ball ricocheted off the striker and rolled into the empty net. With that second strike, he had equalled Kjetil Rekdal’s record for the most World Cup goals by a Norwegian player, a record set back in 1998.
Norway entered the break leading 2-1 and in firm control. The second half saw Iraq continue to battle with admirable courage. Ali’s close-range volley on 63 minutes briefly threatened to reignite the contest. However, Norway’s superior fitness and quality eventually paid off. Defender Leo Ostigaard headed in from a corner to make it 3-1, and Kristian Thorstvedt added a fourth deep into injury time, with Haaland credited with the assist, to put the gloss on a commanding performance.
Speaking after the final whistle, Haaland cut a measured figure despite the magnitude of the occasion. Asked whether he considered himself the best goalscorer in the world, he acknowledged the competition with disarming honesty. “I would say I’m up there,” he said. “Harry Kane and Mbappé scored more goals than me and that’s the reality.” Earlier in the day, Kylian Mbappé had made history of his own, scoring twice as France defeated Senegal 3-1 in the other Group I fixture, drawing him within two goals of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record. The stage is set for a fascinating group, with Norway now sitting top on goal difference ahead of France.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken revealed he had sensed his striker’s readiness in training. “You could see that he lived up to the occasion,” Solbakken said. “The occasion wasn’t too big for him.” Few who have followed Haaland’s career would have doubted that. Now, with goals 56 and 57 of his international career in the bank, and at least two more World Cup group games to come — against Senegal on June 22 and France on June 26 — Norway’s talisman appears ready to make this tournament entirely his own.
