Norway coach Stale Solbakken selected his first-choice attack line, including last season's English Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland, for the country's first World Cup match since 1998. The Group I matchup against Iraq took place on Tuesday.
Erling Haaland delivered on his reputation as one of the tournament's biggest stars, scoring his first ever World Cup goal just 29 minutes into his debut. He finished the match with two goals, including one resulting from a defensive blunder, and provided an assist.
Norway secured a convincing 4-1 victory to get their campaign off to a flying start. The defeat came for a valiant Iraqi side playing on football's biggest stage for the first time in 40 years.