Erling Haaland announced himself on the World Cup stage, scoring twice to inspire Norway to a convincing 4-1 win over Iraq in his World Cup debut.
The Manchester City striker who previously hit milestone goals on his Champions League, Bundesliga and Premier League debuts showed the same predatory instincts for Norway, opening the scoring just before half-time by converting David Møller Wolfe’s cross and adding a second after capitalizing on a hesitant Iraqi clearance. Iraq briefly equalized through Aymen Hussein’s powerful header, but Haaland’s relentless pressing and clinical finishing put Norway back in control as they chased a strong tournament start.
Manager Ståle Solbakken praised Haaland’s temperament, saying the occasion “wasn’t too big for him,” while Iraq coach Graham Arnold called him “one of the best number nines” he’s seen. Haaland finished the match with two goals and several near-misses, nearly completing a hat-trick before a late effort was blocked. His international tally now stands at 57 goals in 51 games, a scoring rate that ranks among the fastest in history for players with 50+ international goals.
Commentators highlighted Haaland’s all-round contribution his pressing, physicality and leadership on the pitch with former players noting he did more for Norway in this game than they sometimes see at club level. Norway’s dominant display and Haaland’s form make them a possible dark horse in the tournament if he keeps producing performances like this one.
