FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Erling Haaland stands at the forefront of Norway’s World Cup journey. In his debut, he proved his mettle. Haaland scored twice, once benefiting from a defensive error, leading Norway to a decisive 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I.

The Manchester City forward’s 56th and 57th goals on the international stage highlight Norway’s first tournament appearance since advancing to the knockout stage of the 1998 World Cup in France, before Haaland entered this world.

Reflecting on his performance, Haaland said, “Of course I will try. It’s about continuing and not overthinking. It’s a challenging stage, but I’ll focus on the next game and stay happy yet calm.”

Norway’s coach, Stale Solbakken, noted Haaland’s readiness, citing his relaxed demeanor during the final training session. “He lived up to the occasion,” Solbakken remarked. “The occasion wasn’t too big for him.”

Leo Ostigard added to the score in the 76th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick from Martin Odegaard. An own goal by Iraq’s Aymen Hussein just before the whistle finalized Norway’s scoring. Hussein also netted a goal for Iraq, achieving an equalizer nine minutes after Haaland’s initial strike.

Players line up before the match.
Buda Mendes / Getty Images

Haaland put Norway ahead just before halftime by intercepting a poor back pass intended for Iraq’s goalkeeper, Jalal Hassan. He outpaced Hassan, shin-flicking the ball into the net.

Iraq’s coach, Graham Arnold, commented, “These things happen. We need to learn from it.”

Haaland’s first goal, in the 29th minute, followed a cross from David Moller Wolfe. Haaland executed a sliding finish with his right heel, thrilling Norway’s fans. Clad in red, they filled the stands, engaging in Viking row chants.

Iraq, appearing in the World Cup for only the second time since 1986, brought a strong fan presence, concentrated behind one of the goals. Their support helped shortly, as Amir Alammari kicked a ball back across Norway’s goal in the 38th minute. It bypassed Norwegian defenders, and Hussein redirected it past goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, leveling the score at 1-1.

This goal marked Hussein’s 34th on the international stage. It includes the decisive goal against Bolivia that secured Iraq’s World Cup place in April.

As Hussein Ali of Iraq expressed, “It’s a moment of pride being back in the World Cup after 40 years. Losing 4-1 is painful.”