Haaland Strikes 'Goals' In World Cup Debut; Norway Lead France In Group I
Iraq Vs Norway Match Photos, FIFA World Cup 2026: Norway thrashed Iraq 4-1 in a Group I match at the Boston Stadium on Tuesday. The match marked a historic milestone for both teams as they ended prolonged absences: Norway their first tournament appearance since France 1998, Iraq returned for the first time since Mexico 1986. The game saw Erling Haaland dominate on his World Cup debut. The Manchester City talisman opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Iraq's Aymen Hussein equalised with a superb leaping header, but Haaland struck again in the 43rd minute to establish a 2-1 half-time cushion. A second-half header from substitute Leo Ostigard and a late Hussein own goal sealed the comfortable victory for Norway. Earlier in the day, France beat Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey, powered by a historic Kylian Mbappe brace that saw him become his nation's all-time top scorer. Group I action resumes on Monday, with France taking on Iraq in Philadelphia while Norway face Senegal in East Rutherford.
A groundskeeper puts his hand in the sprinkler before the start of 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 Erling Haaland, center, warms up prior to the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
An Iraq fan cheers before the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Mark Stockwell
A Norway fan dons a viking helmet nd flag waiting for the start of the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Mark Stockwell
An Iraq fan dressed in a lion costume poses for photos prior to the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho, right, and his assistants warms up prior to the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Players stand for the National Anthem 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
Players take the field 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 colors of Norway and Iraq reflect in the glass 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
Players stand for the National Anthem 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 players pose before the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway fans cheer before 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 head coach Stale Solbakken stands by the bench prior to the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Iraq players pose for a team photo prior to 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 Aymen Hussein, top, heads the ball 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 goalkeeper Jalal Hassan (12) makes a save against Norway's Fredrik Aursnes (14) 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 Sander Berge, left, and Iraq's Ali Alhamadi (9) vie for the ball 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
Norway's Erling Haaland (9), left, and Iraq's Zaid Tahseen (4) compete for the ball during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway's Julian Ryerson, right, and Martin Oedegaard reacts as Iraq's Merchas Doski lies on the pitch 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 head coach Graham Arnold gives instructions during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway's Martin Oedegaard, left, heads the ball past Iraq's Ali Jasim 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
Norway's Kristoffer Ajer tries control the ball past Iraq's Ali Alhamadi 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
Norway takes a hydration break 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 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
Norway's players celebrate after Erling Haaland (9) scored the 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/Charles Krupa
Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan (12) blocks a corner kick 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
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
Iraq's Aymen Hussein (18), center, celebrates after scoring 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/Charles Krupa
Iraq's Aymen Hussein (18), celebrates scoring 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
Iraq fans celebrate a goal 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 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 Erling Haaland (9) celebrates his second goal of the match 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
Iraq's Ali Alhamadi, top right, fails a chance to score challenged by Norway's Kristoffer Ajer 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 Hussein Ali (3) challenges Norway's Antonio Nusa (20) during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Iraq's Akam Hashim (5) and Zaid Ismael (24) reacts to a missed goal at the end of the first half 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
Iraq's Aymen Hussein (18) jumps for the ball past Norway's Alexander Soerloth (7) during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway's Erling Haaland, center, dribbles the ball 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
Iraqi soccer fans react as they watch the World Cup match between Iraq and Norway on a large screen in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, early Wednesday, June 17, 2026. AP Photo/Anmar Khalil
Iraqi soccer fans react after Iraq scored as they watch the World Cup match between Iraq and Norway on a large screen in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, early Wednesday, June 17, 2026. AP Photo/Anmar Khalil
Iraq head coach Graham Arnold gives instructions from the side line during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway's Erling Haaland, left, and Martin Oedegaard talk 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
Fans watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Norway and Iraq in the Zócalo, Mexico City's main square in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Marco Ugarte
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken congratulates Norway's Martin Oedegaard (10) as he comes to the bench 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
Iraq's Zaid Tahseen, right, grabs Norway's Erling Haaland 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
Referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho, of Gabon, show a yellow card to Iraq's Zaid Tahseen 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
Norway's Leo Oestigard (4), center, scores their third 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
Norway's Leo Oestigard (4) celebrates with teammate Norway's Kristian Thorstvedt (18) after scoring his side's third goal 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
Iraq's Ali Jasim (17) is tended by medical staff 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 Kristian Thorstvedt (18), center, scores his side's fourth goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway's Leo Oestigard (4), center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway's Erling Haaland (9), center, leaves the pitch at the end of a World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Norway fans celebrate at the end of the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Martin Meissner
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