Norway made a winning start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign after defeating Iraq 4-1 in their Group I opener at Boston Stadium on Wednesday.
The victory was made even more special as it marked Norway’s first appearance at the World Cup since the 1998 tournament, ending a 28-year wait on football’s biggest stage.
The match began as a closely contested affair, with Iraq putting up a strong challenge before Erling Haaland broke the deadlock for Norway in the 29th minute.
Iraq responded positively and drew level through Aymen Hussein in the 39th minute, setting up an entertaining contest before half-time.
However, Haaland restored Norway’s lead just four minutes later, scoring his second goal of the match in the 43rd minute to give his side a 2-1 advantage heading into the break.
Norway continued to dominate after the restart and eventually extended their lead when Leo Østigård found the net in the 76th minute.
The final blow came during stoppage time when Iraq suffered further misfortune as Aymen Hussein accidentally turned the ball into his own net, sealing a comprehensive 4-1 victory for Norway.
The result places Norway in a strong position in Group I, while Iraq will need to address their shortcomings quickly if they hope to remain in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
