Erling Haaland wasted no time announcing himself at the 2026 World Cup, scoring twice in a dominant Norway performance that saw Stale Solbakken’s side defeat Iraq 4-1 at Gillette Stadium. The result was never seriously in doubt after halftime, with Norway going into the break 2-1 up and growing stronger as the match wore on. An own goal from Aymen Hussein, who had earlier pulled one back for Iraq, rounded off a convincing night for the Norwegians.
Key Moments
- 29′, Haaland opens the scoring for Norway with a normal finish to put his side ahead.
- 39′, Aymen Hussein pulls Iraq level, briefly giving Graham Arnold’s side hope.
- 43′, Haaland strikes again just before halftime to restore Norway’s lead and send them into the break 2-1 up.
- 76′, Leo Østigård converts to make it 3-1 and put the game beyond Iraq’s reach.
- 90′, Aymen Hussein turns the ball into his own net to complete the 4-1 scoreline and end a tough evening for Iraq.
Tactical Breakdown
Norway controlled this match from early on. Solbakken’s side finished with 61% possession and completed 477 of 537 passes at 89% accuracy. Their xG of 2.52 against Iraq’s 0.80 tells the real story: this was a performance built on sustained pressure in the final third, with 11 of their 12 shots coming from inside the box. Iraq rarely threatened, managing just one shot on goal across 90 minutes.
The 73rd-minute wave of substitutions from Norway effectively ended any remote possibility of an Iraq comeback. Solbakken brought on Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, David Møller Wolfe, and Fredrik Aursnes simultaneously, a move that injected fresh legs and allowed Norway to push for the decisive third. Østigård’s goal three minutes later vindicated the timing. Iraq had already made their first double change at the hour mark, but those adjustments did little to change the match’s direction.
Iraq’s problems were structural. Playing a 4-4-2 against a higher-quality opponent, they conceded too much space centrally and never found a way to get their forwards involved. Their nine shots off or blocked represent a team that created volume but very little quality. Only Hussein’s 39th-minute equalizer gave them any platform to build from, and it lasted just four minutes before Haaland struck again.
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Verdict
Norway pick up three points from their opening World Cup group game and will feel confident heading into the rest of the group stage after a performance that was efficient rather than extravagant. Iraq, under Graham Arnold, have work to do if they are to progress, with a defense that was too open and a midfield that gave away too much space. In a group where Mexico and South Korea both earned wins on matchday one, Norway’s goal difference could prove important before the group concludes.