Norway Defeats Iraq with a Four-Goal Victory in the World Cup

The Norwegian national team achieved its first victory in the 2026 World Cup tournament after defeating Iraq with a score of 4-1 in the match held at Gillette Stadium in Boston, as part of the first round of group stage matches for Group Nine.

The Norwegian team entered the match with an attacking style from the start, relying on high pressure and numerical density in the attacking third, while the Iraqi team, led by Graham Arnold, chose defensive organization and closing spaces, relying on quick counter-attacks.

Norway opened the scoring in the 29th minute, capitalizing on defensive mistakes and inaccurate positioning from Iraq's defense, with Erling Haaland putting his team ahead.

The Iraqi team quickly responded, managing to equalize in the 39th minute through Ayman Hussein, who rose to meet a precise cross and placed it in the net, bringing the match back to square one.

However, the draw did not last long, as Haaland exploited a defensive error in the 42nd minute to snatch the ball and place it in the net, ending the first half with Norway leading 2-1.

In the second half, the Iraqi team's performance declined physically and technically, while the Norwegian team maintained its composure and exploited the spaces in the opponent's defense, before Leo Østigård scored the third goal in the 76th minute with a powerful header.

The match concluded with a fourth goal in the 97th minute, after Ayman Hussein scored an own goal, confirming Norway's superiority with a 4-1 result.

With this victory, the Norwegian team earned its first 3 points in the group, leading the standings, while the Iraqi team remained without points in fourth place.