Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his second goal for Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Image Courtesy of Norway FA.
Foxborough, MA – The Norway National Team cruised to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage match on Tuesday afternoon.
The match kicked off at Gillette Stadium to a sold-out crowd of 65,000.
Starting Lineups & Substitutes for Norway versus Iraq.
Norway starting lineup: 4-4-2 | Ørjan Nyland, Kristoffer Ajer, David Møller Wolfe, Torbjørn Heggem, Julian Ryerson, Sander Berge, Fredrik Ausrsnes, Martin Ødegaard (C), Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sørloth, Erling Haaland
Norway substitutes: | Sander Tangvik, Egil Selvik, Morten Thorsby, Leo Østigård, Patrick Berg, Jorgen Larsen, Frederik Bjørkan, Marcus Pedersen, Kristian Thorstvedt, Thelo Aasgaard, Andreas Schjelderup, Oscar Bobb, Jens Hauge, Sondre Langås, Henrik Falchener
Iraq starting lineup: 4-4-2 | Jalal Hassan (C), Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashim, Merchas Doski, Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Zaid Ismael, Ali Jassim, Aymen Hussein, Ali Al-Hamadi
Iraq substitutes: | Fahad Talib, Rebin Sulaka, Manaf Younis, Youssef Amyn, Mohanad Ali, Ahmed Qasem, Ali Yousif, Zidane Iqbal, Ahmed Maknzi, Kevin Yakob, Aimar Sher, Marko Farji, Ahmed Basil, Mustafa Saadoon, Frans Putros
Officials: | Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Center Official), Boris Ditsoga (AR1), Amos Abeigne Ndong (AR2), Amin Mohamed (4th official) with Jarred Gillett (VAR).
Kickoff between Norway & Iraq. Image Courtesy of Fotballandslaget
The match kicked off with Iraq immediately launching the ball into Norway’s defensive third, looking to pin their opponents back and establish an early foothold in the match.
Norway had a massive chance to take the lead in just the 6th minute when Erling Haaland got in behind the defense and looked to square the ball to Antonio Nusa, but his pass was intercepted by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
Iraq created its first chance of the match in the 12th minute when an effort from Ali Al-Hamadi drifted just over the bar.
Erling Haaland had the next chance of the match in the 20th minute when he met a corner-kick delivery with a header, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Less than two minutes later, Alexander Sørloth got on the end of a free-kick delivery into the box, but his header was comfortably collected by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
Entering the 29th minute, Norway took the lead.
Antonio Nusa drove down the left flank before playing the ball forward to David Møller Wolfe, who delivered a cross to the back post for Erling Haaland to finish and make it 1-0 to Norway.
Norway had another chance just two minutes later when Erling Haaland found Alexander Sørloth inside the box, but his effort was blocked and cleared away.
Martin Ødegaard had a chance of his own in the 36th minute when he dragged an effort from more than 20 yards out just wide of the right post.
Entering the 38th minute, Iraq leveled the scoreline.
Amir Al-Ammari delivered a cross into the box that was met by a header from Aymen Hussein, who found the bottom-right corner past Ørjan Nyland to make it 1-1.
Entering the 43rd minute, Norway regained the lead.
Iraqi defender Zaid Tahseen played a back pass to goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, but the ball was chased down by Erling Haaland. Under pressure, Hassan’s clearance struck Haaland and ricocheted into the net to give Norway a 2-1 lead.
Iraq had a massive chance to score in first-half stoppage time when a back-post-delivery was headed across goal by Ali Al-Hamadi. The ball then fell to Ibrahim Bayesh, whose half-volley was blocked by David Møller Wolfe and sent out for a corner kick.
Less than a minute later, Iraq had another headed chance when a corner-kick delivery was met by Zaid Tahseen, but his effort drifted just wide of the net.
Ali Al-Hamadi had the final chance of the first half when he broke in behind on a breakaway, but he was tracked down and his right-footed effort was deflected behind for a corner kick by Kristoffer Ajer.
After the initial 45+5 minutes, the match entered halftime with Norway ahead 2-1.
Halftime between Iraq & Norway.
The second half kicked off with Norway immediately launching the ball into Iraq’s defensive third, looking to pin their opponents back and apply early pressure.
Aymen Hussein had the first chance of the second half in the 52nd minute when he met a cross from Ibrahim Bayesh with a header, but his effort drifted just wide of the left post.
In the 59th minute, Iraq head coach Graham Arnold made his first two substitutions of the match, replacing Zaid Ismael and Ali Al-Hamadi with Zidane Iqbal and Marko Farji.
Hussein Ali had the next chance for Iraq in the 63rd minute when he got on the end of a back-post cross, but his effort sailed just over the bar.
Both teams turned to their benches in the 73rd minute. Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken introduced Kristian Thorstvedt, Leo Østigård, Andreas Schjelderup, and Oscar Bobb in place of David Møller Wolfe, Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, and Fredrik Aursnes, while Iraq head coach Graham Arnold made his third and fourth substitutions of the match, replacing Hussein Ali and Ali Jasim with Mustafa Saadoon and Ahmed Qasem.
Entering the 76th minute, Norway added to their lead.
Following a corner-kick delivery from Martin Ødegaard, defender Leo Østigård rose highest and headed the ball into the net to give Norway a 3-1 lead.
In the 80th minute, Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken made his final substitution of the match, replacing Martin Ødegaard with Patrick Berg.
Erling Haaland had a massive opportunity to score in the 82nd minute when he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, but his effort was blocked away.
In the 86th minute, Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen was issued a yellow card for a foul on Erling Haaland.
Kristian Thorstvedt came close to adding to Norway’s lead in the 90+1 minute, but his effort narrowly missed the bottom-left corner.
Entering the 90+5 minute, Norway added to their lead.
Following a delivery into the box from Torbjørn Heggem, Erling Haaland headed the ball across goal toward Kristian Thorstvedt. Thorstvedt attempted to get a touch on it, however, the ball deflected off of Aymen Hussein and into the bottom-right corner to make it 4-1 to Norway.
Following 90+6 minutes of action, Norway claimed a 4-1 victory over Iraq.
Full Time between Norway & Iraq.
The Norway National Team are on the road set to take on the Iraq National Team in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage match. The match will kick off in East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium on Monday, June 22nd at 8:00 p.m. EST. For more 2026 FIFA World Cup Matches, you can find them on FOX, ESPN or ESPN+.
The Iraq National Team are on the road set to take on the France National Team in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage match. The match will kick off in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday, June 22nd at 5:00 p.m. EST. For more 2026 FIFA World Cup Matches, you can find them on FOX, ESPN or ESPN+.
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