Norway Crush Iraq 4-1 on Triumphant World Cup Return
Photo: REUTERS
Norway has made a powerful return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Ending a 28-year wait, they secured a dominant 4-1 victory against Iraq. This result marks Iraq as the first Asian nation to suffer a defeat in this year’s tournament.
The match, held at Boston Stadium for Group I, saw Erling Haaland continue a family legacy. His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, represented Norway in the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States; now, his son has emerged as the hero in another American-hosted World Cup.
Haaland, who netted 16 goals during the qualifying rounds, showcased his talent in his World Cup debut by scoring twice in the first half. He opened the scoring in the 29th minute, meeting a cross from the left by David Møller.
Iraq briefly drew level in the 39th minute when striker Aymen Hussein headed home a cross from Amir Al-Ammari. This was Hussein's 33rd goal for his national side. Notably, Hussein had previously been detained for seven hours at Chicago airport, yet his goal in the play-off against Bolivia ended Iraq’s 40-year absence from the World Cup.
The parity did not last long. In the 43rd minute, Haaland capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, who struggled to clear a weak back-pass. Haaland’s pressure saw the ball deflect off him and into the net, giving Norway a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Norway further extended their advantage in the 76th minute through Leo Skiri Østigård. The scoring concluded in the sixth minute of injury time when Hussein inadvertently turned the ball into his own net following an ineffective punch by the goalkeeper.
The 4-1 result ensures Norway’s return to the world stage after nearly three decades is a memorable one.
