BOSTON — Making their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence, Norway delivered a devastating statement of intent by crushing Iraq 4-1 in their Group I opener. The match, held at a packed Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), was completely dictated by Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who announced his arrival on the world stage with a sensational first-half brace.
Iraq, making their first World Cup appearance since 1986 under manager Graham Arnold, entered the fixture determined to frustrate the Scandinavians. Despite absorbing early pressure, their defensive line was finally breached in the 29th minute. Haaland utilized his sheer physicality and pace to latch onto a perfectly weighted through ball, calmly slotting his first-ever World Cup goal past Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
To their immense credit, the Lions of Mesopotamia responded with fierce resilience. In the 38th minute, a swift counter-attack caught the Norwegian defense off guard, allowing prolific striker Aymen Hussein to fire home a brilliant equalizer, sparking wild celebrations among the Iraqi supporters. However, the joy was incredibly short-lived.
Just five minutes later, in the 43rd minute, Haaland struck again. Capitalizing on a momentary lapse in concentration from the Iraqi backline, the Norwegian talisman restored the lead heading into the halftime break, effectively breaking Iraq’s psychological momentum.
The second half saw Norway assume absolute control of possession, utilizing the creative vision of Martin Ødegaard and Oscar Bobb to systematically dismantle the tiring Iraqi defense. In the 75th minute, substitute Leo Østigård showcased his aerial dominance by rising highest to head home a corner kick, extending Norway’s lead to 3-1 and putting the game completely out of reach.
The final insult to injury for Iraq came deep into stoppage time (90′). As Haaland contested a dangerous ball in the penalty area, the resulting scramble led to Aymen Hussein inadvertently turning the ball into his own net, sealing the comprehensive 4-1 scoreline.
Securing all three points provides Norway with massive momentum as they prepare to face heavyweights France and Senegal in their upcoming Group I fixtures. For Iraq, the harsh reality of World Cup football has set in, forcing Graham Arnold’s squad to immediately regroup if they hope to salvage their campaign on football’s biggest stage.
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