Erling Haaland Leads Norway's Charge Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Against Senegal
Norway Prepares for Crucial World Cup Clash
In New Jersey, USA, on June 21, Norway's forward Erling Haaland provided fans with a sneak peek into his team's training as they gear up for their upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match against Senegal. Haaland shared clips from the practice on social media, captioning it with, "The mission continues," highlighting Norway's determined preparation for this significant game.
The mission continues pic.twitter.com/wTCHdKHt21
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) June 20, 2026
During Norway's first match against Iraq, Haaland made headlines by becoming the first male player to score multiple goals for his nation in a World Cup debut, netting twice within the first 43 minutes, according to ESPN Insights X. His outstanding performance helped Norway secure a 4-1 victory, marking their first World Cup win in 28 years.
The match began with Iraq showing promise, creating early scoring opportunities, including a close-range header from Aymen Hussein that went over the bar and a long-range shot from Ali Al Hamadi that sailed high. However, Norway took the lead in the 29th minute when Haaland found himself in the right position to convert a low cross from David Moller Wolfe.
Iraq responded ten minutes later, with Hussein scoring a header from Amir Al Ammari's cross, but Norway quickly regained the lead before halftime. Haaland pressured goalkeeper Jalal Hassan into a mistake, resulting in an own goal.
Despite Iraq's attempts to equalize before the break, Norway maintained their lead. The second half saw fewer clear chances, but Norway extended their advantage in the 76th minute when Ostigard scored from a corner following an effort from Kristian Thorstvedt.
Haaland nearly completed a hat-trick late in the game after intercepting a poor back pass, but Hassan was quick to save. Nevertheless, Haaland contributed to the final goal, as his late header led to an unfortunate own goal by Hussein in stoppage time.