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Norway’s long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup ended in celebration as Ståle Solbakken’s side defeated Iraq 4-1 in their opening Group I match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Appearing at the tournament for the first time since 1998, Norway arrived carrying the expectations of a generation that had waited 28 years to see the national team back on football’s biggest stage. Iraq, meanwhile, were making only their second World Cup appearance and their first since Mexico 1986, ending a 40-year absence of their own.The evening ultimately belonged to Erling Haaland, whose first World Cup appearance produced the first two goals of Norway’s campaign. The Manchester City striker struck twice before half-time, while second-half goals from Leo Østigård and an unfortunate late own goal completed a convincing victory that leaves Norway level on three points with France at the top of Group I after Didier Deschamps’ side defeated Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day.
Haaland announces himself on the World Cup stage
For much of the opening half-hour, Norway controlled possession and territory without finding the breakthrough. Martin Ødegaard dictated play from midfield, while Alexander Sørloth and Haaland repeatedly stretched the Iraqi defence with intelligent movement around the penalty area.The deadlock finally broke in the 29th minute following a turnover deep inside Iraqi territory. Norway moved the ball quickly towards the left flank, where David Møller Wolfe delivered a precise cross into the danger area. Haaland reacted quickest at the far post, lunging forward to meet the delivery and smashing a powerful first-time finish high into the net for Norway’s first World Cup goal since 1998.
Norway’s Erling Haaland (9) scores the opening goal against Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan (12) during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
The goal carried obvious significance beyond the scoreboard. Haaland had entered the tournament as one of football’s biggest stars despite never previously appearing at a major international tournament. Norway’s failure to qualify for recent World Cups and European Championships had left one of the game’s most prolific forwards without a global stage. That changed in Foxborough as the 25-year-old finally opened his World Cup account.Iraq, however, refused to allow the match to drift away from them. Their equaliser arrived in the 39th minute through a moment of genuine quality. Amir Al-Ammari produced an inviting delivery into the penalty area and Aymen Hussein rose above a crowd of Norwegian defenders, directing a powerful header beyond Ørjan Nyland to level the contest at 1-1.
Iraq’s Aymen Hussein, top, scores his side’s first goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
For a brief period, Iraq looked capable of carrying that momentum into half-time. Instead, disaster struck four minutes later.A routine backpass towards goalkeeper Jalal Hassan lacked sufficient pace and conviction, allowing Haaland to anticipate the danger immediately. The Norwegian striker intercepted the ball before Hassan could react and calmly rolled his finish into an empty net in the 43rd minute, restoring Norway’s lead and silencing the Iraqi resurgence almost as quickly as it had emerged.
Norway’s Erling Haaland (9) scores his second goal of the match against Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan (12) during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Norway’s quality tells after the break
The second half followed a familiar pattern, with Norway controlling possession and forcing Iraq to spend long periods defending inside their own half.The statistics reflected that dominance. Norway finished with 63 per cent possession, completed 477 accurate passes at a 90 per cent success rate and generated an expected goals figure of 2.59 compared to Iraq’s 0.77. They also held advantages in total shots (12-11), shots on target (6-1) and corner kicks (5-2).Despite those advantages, Iraq remained within touching distance entering the final quarter of the match. The contest effectively ended in the 76th minute through a contribution from an unlikely source.Defender Leo Østigård had only entered the match four minutes earlier after replacing David Møller Wolfe. When Ødegaard curled a corner into the penalty area, Østigård timed his movement perfectly, rising above the Iraqi defence and powering a towering header beyond Hassan to extend Norway’s advantage to 3-1.
Norway’s Leo Oestigard, top, scores his side’s 3rd goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The goal rewarded Norway’s sustained pressure while highlighting the influence of captain Ødegaard, whose delivery produced the decisive third goal after another assured performance in midfield.Iraq continued searching for a route back into the match, but Norway’s organisation and control left few openings. The final scoreline became even more emphatic deep into stoppage time when Aymen Hussein, attempting to deal with another dangerous Norwegian attack, inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net in the 96th minute.The unfortunate own goal completed a 4-1 victory that perhaps looked slightly harsher on Iraq than the overall contest suggested, but there was little doubt regarding the deserved winner.
Group I begins to take shape
The result immediately transforms the complexion of Group I following France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal earlier in the day. Norway and France both sit on three points after Matchday One, while Senegal and Iraq face early pressure heading into their second fixtures.Norway arrived in North America after one of the most impressive qualifying campaigns in Europe. Solbakken’s side secured qualification with a perfect 8-0 record, while Haaland led the continent’s scoring charts with 16 goals in just eight qualifying matches, eight more than any other player.Those goals helped return Norway to a World Cup for the first time since the generation that famously defeated Brazil and reached the Round of 16 in France in 1998. Their World Cup history remains relatively brief, with appearances in 1938, 1994, 1998 and now 2026, but this current squad carries genuine ambition.
Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Iraq’s return was equally historic despite the defeat. The Lions of Mesopotamia had spent four decades waiting to return to the tournament after their only previous appearance in Mexico 1986. While the result was disappointing, Hussein’s goal ensured they avoided leaving empty-handed from an attacking perspective.Attention now turns towards the next round of Group I fixtures. Norway will face Senegal on June 22, while Iraq take on France on the same matchday after Didier Deschamps’ side opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory powered by a Kylian Mbappé brace. Another win would place Norway in a commanding position ahead of what is already shaping up to be one of the marquee fixtures of the entire group stage.Norway’s final group match against France on June 26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough has already been widely viewed as the standout contest in Group I. The meeting will bring together two of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking sides, with Haaland and Mbappé set to face each other at international level for the first time. France arrived in North America among the leading favourites to lift the trophy, while Norway’s impressive qualifying campaign and emphatic opening victory have strengthened belief that they can challenge the group’s top seed. After a 28-year wait to return to the World Cup, Norway could hardly have asked for a stronger start to a campaign that now carries genuine knockout-stage ambitions.
