Iraq national football team won 4-1 against Norway in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Haaland scored the first and second goals in the Iraqi net, and contributed to the fourth goal scored by Iraqi forward Ayman Hussein in error. In his first appearance at the World Cup, Haaland scored the first and second goals in the Iraqi net, winning the Norwegian star the Man of the Match award. Haaland said after the match: This win was expected, and we were lucky to achieve it, and now everyone will celebrate in Norway, and I wish they will celebrate. Haaland became the sixth player to score a double in his first match at the 2026 World Cup, preceded by American Volarein Balogun, Swedish Yasin Al-Ayari, German Kai Havertz, New Zealand's Elijah Gast, and French Kylian Mbappé. The Norwegian team took the lead in the group, ahead of France, which won 3-1 against Senegal. In the second round, Norway will play against Senegal, before completing their group stage with a strong match against France, two-time world champions, and runner-up in the 2022 edition in Qatar.