Norway
No World Cup since 1998 — so this is Haaland's first major tournament, and he scored twice on debut.
Team rating
- Attack86
- Midfield76
- Defense74
Next matches
- Next upvs SenegalMetLife Stadium, East RutherfordJun 22
- vs FranceGillette Stadium, FoxboroughJun 26
The read
Norway hadn't reached a World Cup since 1998, so this is the first major tournament for Erling Haaland — a striker built like a machine — and Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, the playmaker who feeds him. The vibe is pure debut: hungry, loose, joyful. They announced themselves by putting four past Iraq (Haaland scored twice), and they top the group on , one goal ahead of France.
The fan’s readHaaland's first major tournament, all debut energy and joy, the missile up top and Odegaard the metronome behind him — they put four past Iraq and look like a team with everything to prove.
Live storylines
- Mbappé vs Haaland — the heirs' duel
The two best forwards of the post-Messi/Ronaldo era are DRAWN IN THE SAME GROUP (Group I) and will meet head-to-head. This is the marquee individual storyline of the whole tournament — and Haaland, a generational goal-machine, has somehow NEVER played a World Cup before now.
Both exploded on matchday 1. Mbappé scored a brace in France's 3-1 win over Senegal — his 2nd goal made him France's all-time top scorer (58). Haaland scored a brace on his World Cup debut in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq. Norway top the group on goal difference; France 2nd. They meet June 26.
The cast
- Ståle SolbakkenNorway's coach since 2020 — first to take them to a World Cup since 1998, after winning all eight qualifiers ahead of Italymanager
- Erling Haaland ★The most lethal striker alive is finally at his first World Cup — and he announced it with a debut brace.ClubManchester City
- Martin OdegaardNorway's captain and metronome — a former boy-wonder who rebuilt himself into a star.ClubArsenal
