Haaland double fires warning shot as Norway mark World Cup return with Iraq rout

NORWAY made a triumphant return to the global stage on Tuesday as Erling Haaland scored twice in a comprehensive four-one victory over Iraq in their Group I opener.

Playing in their first World Cup match in twenty-eight years, the Norwegians dismantled their opponents with their prolific forward delivering an immediate warning to rival defences.

The opening goal arrived in the twenty-ninth minute when Haaland slid in at the far post to convert a precise low cross from left-back David Moller Wolfe, as reported by Reuters.

The clinical finish set the tone for a dominant performance that firmly establishes Norway as a potent force in the tournament. - June 17, 2026