Norway vs Iraq World Cup 2026: Final Score and Group I Standings

Norway vs Iraq World Cup 2026 Result:

Norway made a stunning return to the World Cup after 28 years, beating Iraq 4-1 at Boston Stadium on June 16 with Erling Haaland scoring twice on his tournament debut.

Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute, turning in a low cross at the back post, before Iraq equalised through Aymen Hussein’s header in the 39th minute.

Haaland restored the lead just four minutes later when Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan failed to deal with a back pass and the ball bounced off Haaland’s knee into the net for his second goal of the night.

Leo Ostigard headed in a third from Martin Odegaard’s corner in the 76th minute, before Hussein turned the ball into his own net from Haaland’s header in stoppage time to complete the rout.

Norway vs Iraq Match Info

• Round: Group I, Matchday 1
• Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
• Result: Norway 4-1 Iraq
• Venue: Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
• TV: FS1 / Telemundo (USA)

Group I Standings After This Match: Norway 1st, 3 points. France 2nd, 3 points. Senegal 3rd, 0 points. Iraq 4th, 0 points.

Norway vs Iraq Squad Value Comparison

Norway arrived with one of the most lethal strikers in world football, built around Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, both at the peak of their powers after dominant Premier League seasons. Their squad value significantly outweighed Iraq’s across every position.

Iraq returned to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years after winning a dramatic intercontinental playoff against Bolivia in March, with Aymen Hussein scoring the goal that sent them to the tournament. Their resilience and organisation showed throughout, but the quality gap proved too wide over 90 minutes. Squad values sourced from Transfermarkt.

Norway vs Iraq Key Players

Norway: Erling Haaland : The Manchester City striker needed just 11 touches in the first half to score twice, becoming Norway’s joint-top scorer alongside Kjetil Rekdal in the process. His World Cup debut lived up to every expectation and his commercial value as one of the tournament’s marquee names was on full display from the first whistle.

Iraq: Aymen Hussein : The striker scored Iraq’s equaliser with a towering header before inadvertently turning the ball into his own net in stoppage time for Norway’s fourth. His goal against Bolivia had sent Iraq to the tournament, making him the embodiment of their unlikely World Cup journey.

Norway vs Iraq Prize Money at Stake

Norway’s opening win put them top of Group I on goal difference ahead of France, both sides level on three points after the first matchday. The result put Norway firmly on track for the Round of 32, unlocking the next prize money tier for the Norwegian Football Federation.

For Iraq, the defeat left them needing wins in their remaining two group matches to stay alive in the tournament. Their return to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years already represented a historic achievement for the Iraqi Football Association, regardless of the group stage result. See the full Norway prize money breakdown and Iraq prize money breakdown on SportsMoneyWire.

FAQ

What was the Norway vs Iraq World Cup 2026 result? Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in Group I on June 16 at Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Who scored in Norway vs Iraq World Cup 2026? Erling Haaland scored twice in the 29th and 43rd minutes, Leo Ostigard added a third in the 76th minute, and Aymen Hussein scored an own goal in stoppage time. Hussein also scored Iraq’s consolation in the 39th minute.

Was this Haaland’s first World Cup goal? Yes, Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut, becoming Norway’s joint top scorer in the process.

What group are Norway and Iraq in? Both sides compete in Group I at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside France and Senegal.