Erling Haaland scored twice on his FIFA World Cup debut as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in their opening Group I match on Tuesday, announcing themselves as early contenders at the 2026 tournament.
The Manchester City striker continued his remarkable record of delivering on major debuts, adding a World Cup brace to previous landmark performances in the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and Premier League.
Haaland’s display came just hours after France captain Kylian Mbappe became his country’s all-time leading scorer with a brace against Senegal, ensuring two of world football’s biggest stars made immediate statements on the opening week of the tournament.
Norway manager, Stale Solbakken’s side made a bright start but had to work hard before breaking down Iraq, with Haaland again proving decisive when his team needed him most.
The striker opened the scoring in the 29th minute, sliding in to convert David Moller Wolfe’s cross and register Norway’s first World Cup goal since the 1998 finals.
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Iraq responded after the break when captain Aymen Hussein headed home an equaliser, briefly raising hopes of an upset.
The parity lasted only moments as Haaland capitalised on hesitation from goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, charging down a clearance before the ball deflected into the net to restore Norway’s advantage.
The goal shifted momentum firmly in Norway’s favour as they added two more goals to secure all three points, while Haaland narrowly missed the chance to complete a hat-trick after being denied late in the game.
His two-goal performance made him the sixth player to score a brace on his debut at the 2026 World Cup.
After the match, Solbakken praised his striker’s composure on football’s biggest stage.
“You can see he lived up to the occasion – it wasn’t too big for him.
“I had a good feeling before the game, the last training session was very good. I had a feeling he would do it for us today.”
Iraq coach, Graham Arnold, also acknowledged Haaland’s influence despite his side’s efforts to contain him.
“He’s just an amazing number nine. We dealt with him quite well for a lot of the game [but] at the end of the day he’s a top striker.
“Norway could shock a lot of people with the team they have. They could go a very long way.”
Arnold revealed he also spoke to Haaland after the final whistle.
“I just said to him: ‘You’re one of the best number nines I’ve ever seen.’ He’s so strong, so quick and he’s just lethal.”
Haaland finished the match with 57 goals in 51 appearances for Norway, maintaining one of the best scoring records in international football.
