Erling Haaland scores his first World Cup goal in Norway's opener vs. Iraq
Jacob CamenkerEditor's note: Follow all World Cup matches live
FOXBOROUGH, MA – Norway got on the board first during its 2026 World Cup opener against Iraq.
To nobody's surprise, it was Erling Haaland who accounted for the country's first World Cup goal since 1998.
Haaland's goal came in the 29th minute after Norway found some space down the left side of Iraq's defense. David Møller Wolfe launched a perfect cross into the box on which Haaland managed to get a touch while sliding to the ground.
The ball went directly into the open side of the net, giving Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan no chance to make a save while also granting Norway an early 1-0 lead.
The goal was Haaland's first-ever at the World Cup but marked his 56th across 49 appearances for the Norwegian national team.
It didn't take long for Haaland to add a second goal to his tally. In the 43rd minute – just four minutes after Iraq equalized on an Aymen Hussein header – Haaland intercepted a back-pass in the direction of Jalal Hassan.
Haaland managed to get to the ball just before it reached the Iraqi keeper, giving him a point-blank opportunity he buried with ease.
With one more goal, Haaland will notch the first hat trick of the 2026 World Cup, and the first at the tournament since Kylian Mbappé netted one in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina.
Erling Haaland World Cup history
Erling Haaland makes his World Cup debut in 2026 after years of smashing goal-scoring records across Europe, hoping to take Norway on a deep run its first appearance since 1998. The 25-year-old won three Golden Boat awards as the Premier League's top scorer in four seasons, including a record 36 in 2022-23. Can the striker carry that form onto the world's biggest stage?
Shop Erling Haaland Norway jerseysErling Haaland international stats
Entering the 2026 World Cup, 25-year-old has scored 55 goals in 49 international matches.
What pro club does Erling Haaland play for?
Norway 2026 World Cup schedule
- June 16: Norway vs. Iraq, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- June 22: Norway vs Senegal, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
- June 26: Norway vs France, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
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USA TODAY's Jordan Mendoza contributed to this reporting
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