Erling Haaland delivered another memorable debut performance, scoring twice as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Manchester City striker continued his remarkable habit of shining on the biggest stages, adding his World Cup debut to a list that already includes a hat-trick on his Champions League debut for RB Salzburg, another hat-trick on his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund, and a brace on his Premier League debut for Manchester City.
Haaland opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, sliding in to convert David Moller Wolfe’s cross for Norway’s first World Cup finals goal in 10,220 days.
Iraq briefly equalised through Aymen Hussein’s powerful header, but Haaland restored Norway’s lead after capitalising on a goalkeeping error, charging down Jalal Hassan’s attempted clearance and directing the ball into the net.
Norway sealed the emphatic victory with two more goals after Haaland narrowly missed out on a hat-trick, having one effort saved and another bundled into Iraq’s own net.
His two-goal display made him the sixth player to score a brace in an opening match at the 2026 World Cup.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken praised his star striker’s composure on football’s biggest stage.
“You can see he lived up to the occasion—it wasn’t too big for him,” Solbakken said. “I had a good feeling before the game. The last training session was very good, and I believed he would deliver for us.”
Iraq coach Graham Arnold also lauded Haaland’s qualities despite his side’s defeat.
“He’s just an amazing number nine,” Arnold said. “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 congratulated Haaland after the match, telling 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’s latest goals took his international tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances for Norway, giving him one of the best goals-per-game records in international football history.
(The Whistler)