Erling Haaland has never encountered a stage too grand for him — and the FIFA World Cup 2026 proved no different. The Norway striker scored twice on his World Cup finals debut to inspire a 4-1 victory over Iraq, adding another landmark debut goal to a career already littered with them.

Haaland marked his Champions League debut for RB Salzburg with a hat-trick, his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund with another, and his Premier League debut for Manchester City with a double. On Tuesday, he continued that tradition on the grandest stage of all.

A first World Cup goal — 10,220 days in the making

Norway had not scored at a World Cup finals in 10,220 days. Their last goal, in 1998, came 759 days before Haaland was even born. He ended that wait in the 30th minute, stabbing home David Moller Wolfe's teasing cross from the left — despite registering just 11 touches in the entire first half, the fewest of any player on the pitch.

Iraq equalised briefly through a towering Aymen Hussein header, but Haaland restored Norway's lead by charging down a backpass and forcing the ball into the net as keeper Jalal Hassan hesitated over a clearance. He was then denied a hat-trick — what would have been the 55th in World Cup history — when Jalal blocked his late effort, before Hussein inadvertently turned a looping Haaland header over his own line in added time.

Coaches united in admiration

Norway manager Stale Solbakken was full of praise for his striker after the final whistle.