By Dwayne Ferreira.
Haaland scores twice as Norway beat Senegal 3-2, secure World Cup knockout qualification and maintain their perfect Group I campaign in New Jersey.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 in Group I and secured a place in the World Cup round of 32 during their first finals appearance for 28 years.
Norway entered the match after a 4-1 victory over Iraq, while Senegal needed a response to their 3-1 opening defeat by France. Both coaches retained the starting line-ups used in those games, leaving Haaland and Martin Ødegaard to lead Norway against a Senegal side featuring Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaïla Sarr.
Senegal competed strongly during the opening half-hour and initially kept Haaland away from dangerous areas. Norway still threatened from set pieces, with Kristoffer Ajer forcing Édouard Mendy into a sharp save. Full-back Julian Ryerson then had to leave in the 13th minute, giving substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen an unexpectedly early World Cup debut.
Pedersen became the unlikely opening scorer in the 43rd minute. Ødegaard’s ball into the middle was cleared poorly by Kalidou Koulibaly and fell to the replacement near the top of the penalty arc. Pedersen took two touches and drove a low shot that Mendy reached but could not prevent from crossing the line.
Haaland struck the post before halftime, then doubled Norway’s lead three minutes after the restart. Ødegaard carried the ball through a rapid counterattack and threaded a pass into the striker’s path, allowing Haaland to finish left-footed beyond Mendy.
Senegal responded in the 53rd minute when Sarr held off pressure inside the box and reduced the deficit. Any momentum was short-lived. Five minutes later, Patrick Berg found Haaland in front of goal and the striker used his weaker right foot to volley the ball in off the crossbar for Norway’s third.
Mendy was forced off injured in the 63rd minute, but Senegal continued to push. Sarr scored again in the third minute of stoppage time to create a tense finish, yet Norway survived the remaining attacks and celebrated a second consecutive victory.
Haaland moved to four goals from his first two World Cup appearances and 59 in 52 internationals. He has scored 24 times across his last 12 matches for Norway, finding the net in each of them, and joined Harry Kane as the only players in the past 50 years to score twice in both of their first two World Cup appearances.
Senegal’s attacking persistence deserved credit, especially through Sarr, but costly defensive errors left them without a point after two matches for the first time at a World Cup. Their route forward now depends on beating Iraq and collecting enough points and goal difference to qualify among the best third-placed teams.
Norway joined France on six points and reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1998. France lead the group on goal difference, meaning Norway must win their final match in Foxborough on June 26 to finish first. Senegal face Iraq in Toronto at the same time, with both teams fighting to keep their campaigns alive.
MATCH SUMMARY
Norway – 3
Marcus Holmgren Pedersen 43’
Erling Haaland 48’, 58’
Senegal – 2
Ismaïla Sarr 53’, 90+3’
Result: Norway won 3-2
Player of the Match: Erling Haaland
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group I
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: June 22, 2026
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