Norway’s national team emerged victorious over Iraq’s squad in the opening match of the group stage at the FIFA World Cup, currently being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Group I encounter took place in Boston, USA, concluding with a 4-1 scoreline. For Norway, Erling Haaland netted a brace, scoring in the 29th and 43rd minutes. Leo Østigård (76th minute) and Kristian Thorstvedt (90+7th minute) also contributed to the scoreboard. Aymen Hussein (39th minute) scored the lone goal for the losing side.
This marks Norway’s fourth appearance in the World Cup and their first since 1998, with their best performance being a reach to the Round of 16. With his two goals, Haaland has now equaled the national team’s top scorer at World Cups, as Kjetil Rekdal also has two goals to his name. For Iraq, this is their second World Cup participation, having previously competed in the 1986 tournament.
In the subsequent round, Norway’s team will face Senegal. Iraq’s squad is set to compete against France. Both matches are scheduled for June 22nd.
This World Cup is notable for being the first to feature 48 national teams and is being held across three host nations: the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament is set to conclude on July 19th.
About the Author
