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Norway edged Senegal 3–2 in a pulsating Group I encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to secure a vital win for the Scandinavian side at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The match opened with both teams showing attacking intent, as Senegal enjoyed early possession while Norway posed a constant threat on the counterattack. However, neither side was able to break the deadlock until late in the first half.
Norway took the lead in the 43rd minute through Marcus Pedersen, who finished calmly inside the box to give his team a crucial advantage heading into the break.
Barely three minutes into the second half, Norway doubled their lead when Martin Ødegaard delivered a precise pass to Haaland, who slotted home with composure to make it 2–0.
Senegal responded in the 53rd minute, with Ismaila Sarr finishing off a clever assist from Sadio Mané to reduce the deficit and reignite hopes for the African side.
However, Norway restored their two-goal cushion in the 58th minute as Patrick Berg found Haaland, who struck again to complete his brace and make it 3–1.
Despite trailing, Senegal continued to push forward and were rewarded in stoppage time when Sarr netted his second goal in the 90+3rd minute, setting up a tense finish.
Norway, however, held firm defensively in the closing moments to seal all three points, with Haaland’s brace proving decisive in a match defined by attacking quality from both sides.
In the other Group I fixture, France delivered a dominant performance to defeat Iraq 3–0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The French side took control early, with Kylian Mbappé opening the scoring in the 14th minute after a well-timed pass from Michael Olise, firing a powerful strike beyond the Iraqi goalkeeper.
Iraq struggled to contain France’s attacking movement, picking up early bookings as Mbappé repeatedly troubled their defensive line.
After a weather-related delay halted play before the second half, France resumed strongly and doubled their lead in the 54th minute. Ousmane Dembélé capitalised on a defensive error before setting up Mbappé, who finished calmly for his second goal.
France sealed the victory in the 66th minute when Olise again played a key role, releasing Dembélé, who curled a precise shot into the far corner to complete the 3–0 scoreline.
The win strengthened France’s position in Group I, with Mbappé’s brace and Olise’s two assists highlighting their attacking dominance, while Dembélé capped an impressive team performance with a goal and assist.
