Haaland's 'Majin Buu' Double Secures Norway's World Cup Return with 4-1 Victory Over Iraq

2026 World Cup Key News

Central News Agency Report

(Helsinki, June 17 – Correspondent Wu Chi-Lin) Norway made a historic return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence, defeating Iraq 4-1 in their opening match despite a tense moment when the score was leveled. Erling Haaland scored two crucial goals to turn the tide, securing a hard-fought victory for Norway’s golden generation and sparking nationwide celebrations.

The Group I match took place on June 16 at Gillette Stadium in Boston, USA. Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a header from a left-wing cross, marking Norway’s first World Cup goal in 28 years. Iraq’s forward Aymen Hussein equalized with a powerful header, briefly silencing the Norwegian fans and creating a tense atmosphere.

That goal was deeply symbolic for Iraq, as it was only their second-ever World Cup goal—40 years after their first in 1986. The roar from Iraqi supporters reflected decades of longing and resilience.

Before halftime, Haaland capitalized on a goalkeeper error to score his second, giving Norway a 2-1 lead at the break. In the second half, Norway switched to a 4-3-3 formation. Substitute Leo Østigård added a header, and Hussein accidentally scored an own goal, sealing the 4-1 victory.

At 25, Haaland is making his World Cup debut. Currently playing for Manchester City in the English Premier League, he is widely regarded as one of the world’s top strikers. Since joining City in 2022, he has shattered records, scoring 36 goals in his first season—the most in a single Premier League season. He has now surpassed 150 goals for the club across all competitions. He is also Norway’s all-time leading scorer, and during World Cup qualifying, he netted 16 goals in 8 perfect wins, single-handedly propelling Norway back to the global stage after 28 years.

Before the match, Haaland posted a viral video on social media meditating to the iconic song 'Norwegian Forest' by Taiwanese rock legend Wu Bai. His massive physique and explosive power have drawn comparisons to Majin Buu from the anime 'Dragon Ball,' earning him a legion of fans.

But Norway’s squad is more than just Haaland. Captain Martin Ødegaard commands the midfield at Arsenal in the Premier League. Winger Antonio Nusa and forward Alexander Sørloth are also rising European stars.

The Guardian published an in-depth analysis, noting that a Nordic nation with fewer than 6 million people has produced one of the most talented and deep squads in modern Norwegian history—making them a genuine dark horse in this World Cup.

According to Norway’s public broadcaster NRK, analysts awarded Haaland the highest player rating of 9/10, with one commentator stating, 'Only he can do what he did.' They praised not only his goals but also his defensive effort early in the game, tracking back to stop an Iraqi counterattack—an act far beyond typical striker duties. Teammates reportedly said, 'Thank goodness he’s Norwegian.'

After the match, Haaland told TV 2 News: 'Even on an ordinary day, winning 4-1 in our World Cup debut is a life-changing moment for all of us.'

Captain Ødegaard was more critical in an interview with Dagbladet: 'A 4-1 win is solid, but it was a chaotic game. We still need to improve our ball control and passing.'

For Norway, this was a generational celebration. Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo drew 25,000 fans who gathered overnight to watch the match on giant screens.

When Iraq equalized, one fan ripped off his wig in despair, and the crowd fell silent. But when Haaland scored his second, the stadium erupted once more.

Outside the Boston stadium, fans performed the 'Viking Row,' wearing horned helmets and mimicking the rhythm of rowing a longship. The video went viral, with Taiwanese fans joking that Norwegians were essentially doing dragon boat racing.

Following the win, Norway’s chances of advancing to the Round of 32 soared to 97%, and they now top Group I ahead of France on goal difference. (Editor: Chang Chih-Hsuan) 1150617

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