Iraq
NorwayAfter Iraq's leveller briefly threatened to make this a real match, Haaland's opportunistic second on the stroke of half-time — chasing down a weak back-pass to tap home — was the decisive moment that erased Iraq's psychological foothold entirely. The second half was essentially a Norway training exercise, their pressing suffocating any Iraqi attempt to build and Ostigard's unchallenged corner header telling the story of how completely the Nashama were overpowered once momentum shifted.
Iraq
Iraq showed genuine spirit on their return to the World Cup stage after 40 years, and Aymen Hussein's equalising header just before the half-hour mark briefly made the game feel like a contest. The defensive shape held reasonably in the first half, but once Norway's pressing and movement began to tell after the interval, the Iraqi backline's lack of top-level international experience was exposed in quick succession. The 1-4 scoreline is a harsh but honest reflection of the gap.
Norway
Norway were ruthless and composed, with Erling Haaland delivering precisely what everyone expected on his World Cup debut: a clinical first-half brace that framed the match entirely in Norwegian terms. Martin Odegaard controlled midfield with authority, Leo Ostigard added the definitive third from a corner, and an Iraqi own-goal near the death confirmed Norway's complete dominance of the second half. Ståle Solbakken's side announced themselves at this tournament with a statement.