The Norway national team secured a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Iraq at the Boston Stadium in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage.
The “Lions of Mesopotamia” put on a highly commendable performance, particularly in the first half. However, they clearly lacked the clinical edge and tournament experience required at this level—qualities that the Scandinavian side possessed in abundance.
Haaland Exploits Mistakes After Hussein’s Historic Equalizer
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for Norway in the 29th minute, steering a precise cross into the back of the net with his left foot past Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
Iraq’s talisman Aymen Hussein briefly revived his country’s hopes, scoring a historic equalizer with a brilliant header in the 40th minute. However, the celebrations were short-lived, lasting only three minutes. A catastrophic blunder by the Iraqi goalkeeper allowed Haaland to press effectively right in front of the goal, causing the ball to deflect off him and into the empty net.
Østigård Seals the Win as Iraq’s World Cup Struggle Continues
Despite unleashing a wave of attacks in the dying minutes of the first half, Iraq’s performance noticeably dipped in the second period. In the 75th minute, Leo Østigård delivered the final blow, scoring Norway’s third goal to put the game out of reach.
With this result, Iraq’s historic struggles at the World Cup persist, as the Arab nation has now failed to secure a single victory across the four World Cup matches they have played in their history.
Group I Standings and What’s Next?
Iraq now faces a monumental task to keep their tournament alive. They are scheduled to face powerhouse France next week, where anything less than a victory could end their hopes of reaching the Round of 32.
Following the opening round, Norway takes the top spot in Group I ahead of France on goal difference, with both teams tied at 3 points. Meanwhile, Senegal and Iraq sit at the bottom of the standings with zero points.
