Norway Advances to World Cup with Haaland Scoring Twice in Opening Match

Norway reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after winning its qualifying group. The team opened the tournament with a match against Iraq in which Haaland scored twice. Haaland, who plays for Manchester City, is 25 years old and stands six feet five inches tall. In the game against Iraq he scored twice before a third incident drew a foul when he collided with defender Marko Farji.

Norway has appeared in four World Cups total.

Earlier generations of players faced travel limits, including forward Tom Lund who avoided matches outside Europe due to a fear of flying. The current squad has no fixed national style and has adopted imagery tied to Norse history. Before departure the government supplied three hundred kilograms of fish and one hundred kilograms of cheese for the traveling party.

The game against Iraq remained scoreless at halftime.

Norway took a 1-0 lead in the forty-third minute on a goal by substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen. Haaland attempted a shot from a narrow angle shortly afterward that struck the post. The match ended with Norway holding the one-goal margin. Haaland maintains residence in his hometown of Bryne and continues to use a rural Norwegian accent in public appearances.