Norway 4 – 1 Iraq

WORLDCUP · June 16, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

Norway put on a commanding World Cup performance tonight, walking away with a four to one victory over Iraq in what was never really a contest after the first half hour. Norway struck first and never looked back, controlling the ball for over sixty percent of the match and generating five shots on goal to Iraq's one. When you dominate possession like that, you dictate everything — the tempo, the space, the anxiety level on the other bench.

Erling Haaland was the engine, leading all players with five total shots, and when Haaland is getting that kind of volume, defenses crack. Torbjørn Heggem was the quiet architect behind it all, completing eighty accurate passes to keep Norway's attacking machine well-oiled and moving. Iraq's Merchas Doski threw himself at everything, recording ten defensive interventions, but there was simply too much Norway to hold back. Akam Hashim worked hard in midfield with forty-two accurate passes, and Aymen Hussein tested the keeper three times, but Iraq managed just one shot on frame all night. Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan was called upon twice and answered, though the scoreline tells you the damage was already done.

Norway were cleaner, sharper, and hungrier — and on this night, that was the whole story. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 110 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Aymen Hussein (Iraq) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 4'

Foul by Torbjørn Heggem (Norway). 4'

Attempt missed. Aymen Hussein (Iraq) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation. 5'

Akam Hashim (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 6'

Foul by Alexander Sørloth (Norway). 6'

Merchas Doski (Iraq) wins a free kick on the left wing. 8'

Foul by Julian Ryerson (Norway). 8'

Foul by Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq). 10'

Kristoffer Ajer (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 10'

Attempt missed. Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Aymen Hussein. 13'

Foul by Zaid Tahseen (Iraq). 17'

Sander Berge (Norway) wins a free kick on the left wing. 17'

Corner, Norway. Conceded by Ibrahim Bayesh. 19'

Attempt missed. Erling Haaland (Norway) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Julian Ryerson with a cross following a corner. 20'

Foul by Zaid Ismael (Iraq). 22'

Antonio Nusa (Norway) wins a free kick on the left wing. 22'

Attempt blocked. Alexander Sørloth (Norway) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Julian Ryerson with a cross. 24'

Ibrahim Bayesh (Iraq) wins a free kick on the right wing. 24'

Foul by David Møller Wolfe (Norway). 24'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 24'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 27'

Attempt missed. Zaid Tahseen (Iraq) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation. 28'

Goal! Iraq 0, Norway 1. Erling Haaland (Norway) left footed shot from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by David Møller Wolfe with a cross. 29'

Attempt blocked. Alexander Sørloth (Norway) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Erling Haaland. 31'

Corner, Norway. Conceded by Hussein Ali. 32'

Jalal Hassan (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 33'

Foul by Sander Berge (Norway). 33'

Foul by Aymen Hussein (Iraq). 35'

Alexander Sørloth (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 35'

Ibrahim Bayesh (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 36'

Foul by David Møller Wolfe (Norway). 36'

Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Norway) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alexander Sørloth. 37'

Merchas Doski (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 37'

Foul by Alexander Sørloth (Norway). 37'

Goal! Iraq 1, Norway 1. Aymen Hussein (Iraq) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Amir Al Ammari with a cross. 39'

Attempt saved. Erling Haaland (Norway) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal by Jalal Hassan (Iraq). 43'

Goal! Iraq 1, Norway 2. Erling Haaland (Norway) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. 43'

Handball by Zaid Ismael (Iraq). 44'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 45'

Zaid Tahseen (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 45'+1'

Foul by David Møller Wolfe (Norway). 45'+1'

Akam Hashim (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 45'+2'

Foul by Erling Haaland (Norway). 45'+2'

Attempt missed. Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Merchas Doski with a cross. 45'+3'

Attempt blocked. Ibrahim Bayesh (Iraq) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Ali Al Hamadi. 45'+3'

Corner, Iraq. Conceded by David Møller Wolfe. 45'+3'

Attempt missed. Zaid Tahseen (Iraq) header from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Amir Al Ammari with a cross following a corner. 45'+4'

Attempt blocked. Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ali Jasim with a through ball. 45'+5'

Corner, Iraq. Conceded by Kristoffer Ajer. 45'+5'

Attempt missed. Akam Hashim (Iraq) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner. 45'+6'

First Half ends, Iraq 1, Norway 2. 45'+7'

Second Half begins Iraq 1, Norway 2. 45'

Offside, Iraq. Hussein Ali is caught offside. 47'

Foul by Aymen Hussein (Iraq). 49'

David Møller Wolfe (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 49'

Attempt missed. Aymen Hussein (Iraq) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ibrahim Bayesh with a cross. 53'

Foul by Amir Al Ammari (Iraq). 54'

Martin Ødegaard (Norway) wins a free kick on the right wing. 54'

Foul by Hussein Ali (Iraq). 54'

Antonio Nusa (Norway) wins a free kick on the left wing. 54'

Corner, Norway. Conceded by Akam Hashim. 56'

Delay in match because of an injury Ali Jasim (Iraq). 58'

Substitution, Iraq. Zidane Iqbal replaces Zaid Ismael. 59'

Substitution, Iraq. Marko Farji replaces Ali Al Hamadi. 59'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 59'

Attempt missed. Hussein Ali (Iraq) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is just a bit too high. Assisted by Amir Al Ammari with a cross. 63'

Merchas Doski (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 64'

Foul by Alexander Sørloth (Norway). 64'

Corner, Norway. Conceded by Hussein Ali. 66'

Delay in match because of an injury Ali Jasim (Iraq). 69'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 69'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 69'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 72'

Substitution, Norway. Andreas Schjelderup replaces Antonio Nusa. 73'

Substitution, Norway. Kristian Thorstvedt replaces Fredrik Aursnes. 73'

Substitution, Norway. Oscar Bobb replaces Alexander Sørloth. 73'

Substitution, Norway. Leo Østigård replaces David Møller Wolfe because of an injury. 73'

Substitution, Iraq. Mustafa Saadoon replaces Hussein Ali. 73'

Substitution, Iraq. Ahmed Qasem replaces Ali Jasim because of an injury. 73'

Attempt blocked. Kristian Thorstvedt (Norway) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oscar Bobb. 76'

Corner, Norway. Conceded by Merchas Doski. 76'

Goal! Iraq 1, Norway 3. Leo Østigård (Norway) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a cross following a corner. 76'

Substitution, Iraq. Mohanad Ali replaces Ibrahim Bayesh. 78'

Merchas Doski (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 78'

Foul by Martin Ødegaard (Norway). 78'

Zaid Tahseen (Iraq) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 79'

Foul by Erling Haaland (Norway). 79'

Substitution, Norway. Patrick Berg replaces Martin Ødegaard. 81'

Foul by Zaid Tahseen (Iraq). 82'

Erling Haaland (Norway) wins a free kick on the left wing. 82'

Attempt missed. Leo Østigård (Norway) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Julian Ryerson with a cross following a set piece situation. 82'

Attempt saved. Erling Haaland (Norway) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jalal Hassan (Iraq). 83'

Foul by Zaid Tahseen (Iraq). 86'

Erling Haaland (Norway) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 86'

Zaid Tahseen (Iraq) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 86'

Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. 90'

Attempt missed. Kristian Thorstvedt (Norway) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Andreas Schjelderup. 90'+1'

Delay in match because of an injury Aymen Hussein (Iraq). 90'+2'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 90'+2'

Marko Farji (Iraq) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+4'

Foul by Julian Ryerson (Norway). 90'+4'

Foul by Mustafa Saadoon (Iraq). 90'+5'

Andreas Schjelderup (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+5'

Foul by Mustafa Saadoon (Iraq). 90'+6'

Erling Haaland (Norway) wins a free kick on the left wing. 90'+6'

Own Goal by Aymen Hussein, Iraq. Iraq 1, Norway 4. 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Iraq 1, Norway 4. 90'+8'

Match ends, Iraq 1, Norway 4.