Norway marked their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought victory over Iraq in Boston, powered by a historic goal from Erling Haaland and a resilient team performance.

After waiting 28 years to return to football's biggest stage, the Scandinavians delivered a winning start, though they were made to work much harder than many had anticipated by a determined Iraqi side that refused to back down.

Haaland Announces Himself on the World Stage

On an energetic evening in Boston, Norway gradually found their rhythm and finally broke the deadlock midway through the first half.

A beautifully constructed attacking move sliced open the Iraqi defence before David Moller Wolfe delivered a perfectly weighted low cross across the face of goal.

Waiting at the far post was Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker needed no second invitation, calmly tapping home from close range to score his first-ever World Cup goal and give Norway the lead.

It was the moment many Norwegian supporters had been waiting years to witness.

Their biggest star had finally arrived on the World Cup stage.

Iraq Respond with Character

Rather than allowing the setback to derail them, Iraq responded impressively.

The Asian side showed courage and attacking intent, pushing forward in search of an equaliser.

Their reward arrived ten minutes later.

Amir Al-Ammari burst down the left flank and delivered a precise cross toward the back post, where captain Aymen Hussein rose above the defence.

The striker powered a superb header into the bottom corner, sending Iraqi supporters into celebration and restoring parity.

At that moment, the momentum appeared to be shifting.

A Costly Mistake Changes the Game

Just as Iraq looked increasingly comfortable, disaster struck.

A routine backpass should have presented no danger, but hesitation inside the penalty area proved costly.

Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan took too long to clear the ball, allowing Haaland to close him down aggressively.

The pressure resulted in a critical mistake, handing Norway an opportunity they gratefully accepted to regain the lead before halftime.

It was a painful moment for Iraq, particularly after their spirited response to going behind.

Iraq Continue to Fight

To their credit, Iraq refused to surrender.

The closing minutes of the first half saw them launch wave after wave of attacks in search of another equaliser.

Ali Al-Hamadi came close, only to be denied by desperate defending.

Ibrahim Bayesh also threatened, while Akam Hashim narrowly missed the target with a powerful volley just before the interval.

Norway survived the storm, but the warning signs were clear.

The match was far from over.

Norway Finish the Job

The frantic pace of the first half gave way to a more controlled second period.

Both teams struggled to create clear chances as defensive organisation began to take precedence.

For long stretches, neither goalkeeper was seriously tested.

That changed in the 76th minute.

From a well-delivered Martin Odegaard corner, substitute Leo Ostigard rose highest inside the penalty area and directed a precise header into the net.

The goal provided Norway with a crucial cushion and effectively ended Iraq's hopes of mounting another comeback.

A Cruel Ending for Iraq

As Iraq pushed forward in the closing stages, misfortune struck again.

In an attempt to defend a dangerous situation inside the six-yard box, Aymen Hussein inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while battling for position near the goal line.

It was an unfortunate conclusion for a player who had earlier inspired his side with a superb equalising goal.

The own goal added further gloss to the scoreline, but it did not fully reflect the competitive nature of the contest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUmieIP31QY

Norway Make the Perfect Return

For Norway, the result represents a dream start to their first World Cup campaign since 1998.

Haaland delivered on the biggest stage, Odegaard controlled proceedings in midfield, and the team showed enough quality to secure all three points.

Most importantly, Norway now have momentum heading into the remainder of the group stage.

As for Iraq, the wait for a first World Cup victory continues.

Yet despite the disappointment, there were plenty of encouraging signs in a performance full of effort, resilience and attacking ambition.

The result belongs to Norway.

But the story of the night was written by Erling Haaland, whose first World Cup goal helped launch his nation's long-awaited return in style.