World Cup
After trading early scores, Norway has built a two-goal lead.
Norway fans row during the World Cup matchup with Iraq. AP Photo/Mark Stockwell
June 16, 2026 | 4:47 PM
5 minutes to read
After an inspired start to Boston’s World Cup experience on Saturday with Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti, fans return for the second local game of the 2026 tournament.
Iraq, in its first World Cup since 1986, will face Norway, playing in its first men’s edition of the event since 1998. Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland is set to lead the line for the Scandinavians. He will face an Iraqi team that played a record number of qualifying games to reach the world’s stage.
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the pregame and the match itself:
7:39: GOAL Norway, 3-1. Defender Leo Østigård, with possibly his first touch of the game after entering moments ago as a substitute, heads in the goal from close range on a corner kick.
7:38: Norway make a line change of four substitutions simultaneously, including the entrance of winger Oscar Bobb.
7:31: We have our second half hydration break. A few observations:
- Haaland has had no trouble settling in on the World Cup stage. Two goals and he looks dangerous and dynamic as advertised.
- Iraq have played with no fear. True, a tough mistake cost them a goal. But playing in their first World Cup game in decades, the Iraqis — perhaps not surprisingly given their incredible story to reach this stage — are showing their bravery going toe-to-toe with a bigger (and perhaps more skillful) Norwegian squad.
- It’s a fairly open game. With some periods of stagnation, there have also been sequences of back-and-forth play that may even entertain some of the non-soccer crowd in attendance.
7:25: Iraq creates a nice spell of possession, switching the ball from flank to flank multiple times. It culminates with a near-chance as Ibrahim Bayesh tries to redirect a cross back toward goal and nearly floats it into the far corner. But the ball flies out for a goal kick.
7:15: Hussein once again proves he is a force to be reckoned with in the air despite Norway’s collective height. He reaches another cross and nearly finds an equalizer, but the ball bounces harmlessly past the far post for a goal kick.
7:07: We are underway in the second half!
6:51: Halftime! 2-1 Norway after 45 minutes. Again, Iraq is not going away. Al-Hamadi was played through on a breakaway right at the end, but his finish just drifted wide of the net. Chances have been flying, with Iraq surprisingly creating plenty of their own.
6:48: Iraq is facing a greatly favored opponent, but (other than the one calamitous mistake) have not flinched. They produced another moment of drama resulting in another shot, but it skies over the net. Still 2-1 Norway.
6:43: Norway GOAL! 2-1, after an unfortunate back-pass from Iraq’s Zaid Tahseen lacked enough pace to reach the keeper, and Haaland pounced. It’s an easy tap-in for him, and Norway’s lead is restored.
6:39: Iraq GOAL! We are tied at 1-1 with a magical header into the low corner. The Iraqi fans are jubilant! Amir Al-Ammari floats a cross to the back post and (who else) but Iraq’s main man up top, Aymen Hussein, nods it in with perfect technique.
6:29: GOAL Norway! Who else but Erling Haaland, arrives at the perfect time at the back post to tap in the perfectly placed low cross. David Møller Wolfe, Norway’s left back, runs onto the overlap and lashes the cross with precision. The Vikings are sailing smoothly within half an hour!
6:26: Some local culture being displayed here, with “Living on a Prayer” blaring during the hydration break. Patriots regulars are here too, bellowing out the chorus even as the music cuts. It’s the World Cup, but local traditions will be observed!
6:25: We have the mandatory hydration break, which is greeted with a chorus of boos from the crowd. Not too much to speak of so far, but Iraq is holding their own on contested headers despite the size disparity.
6:13: Iraq’s Ali Al-Hamadi gets a clean look at goal but can’t quite keep his shot down. In a quick sequence, the Iraqi’s make a fairly direct attack, with fellow forward Aymen Hussein flicking the ball on for Al-Hamadi in the box.
6:10: Early takeaway from this World Cup: The joy of making it onto the jumbo-tron at a major sporting event is universal. Doesn’t matter if you’re Scottish, Haitian, Iraqi, Norwegian, or from down the road in Norwood. People are hyped to be on the (exceptionally large) screen here at “Boston Stadium.”
6:08: Haaland jumps in front of the Iraqi defense chasing down a through-ball hit into the right corner, and sprints to the end line before rolling the ball across goal. Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan is alert to the danger, however, and easily collects the cross.
6:07: Iraq managed a half-chance header at goal which flew over the net for a goal kick, but their fans (seated behind the Norwegian goal) erupted in support. Make no mistake, Iraq is well represented today in Foxborough.
6:03: In the third minute, we get our first flash of action as Norwegian winger Antonio Nusa pings a great diagonal ball into Haaland. The towering forward almost latches onto it, but Iraqi center back Zaid Tahseen does just enough to disrupt the chance and it fizzles.
5:57: After a rousing set of anthems, we are ready for kickoff! The upper decks seem to be close to full. Appears to be an excellent crowd on-hand.
5:51: The big flags are out! Fans are filling into their seats, and the teams are set to march out for the anthems. The excitement builds.
5:34: Before kickoff, we can check in on some nation-specific journalists, and what they’re saying. First, let’s hear from Norwegian journalist Lars Sivertsen as he notes that it’s been 10,277 days since his country last played on the World Cup stage:
From Iraq, we have journalist and author Hassanin Mubarak. According to Mubarak (who chronicled the historically long and difficult road his country walked to qualify for this World Cup), head coach Graham Arnold has made some surprising selections for his lineup:
Arnold makes one big surprise selection, starting Zaid Ismail in midfield instead of Aimar Sher. This is only his fifth international start for Iraq and it’s at the World Cup finals. Ali Jassim gets the nod ahead of Marko Farji. 🇮🇶🇮🇶 pic.twitter.com/5K35J2iUjs
— Hassanin Mubarak (@hassaninmubarak) June 16, 2026
5:15: A big cheer goes up as the Norwegian and Iraqi goalkeeper contingents are the first players to make their way onto the grass field for warmups.
4:56: Lineups are out. It looks like Iraq will play a 4-4-2:
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 🇮🇶🇳🇴
التشكيلةُ الرسميةُ لمنتخبِنا الوطنيّ لمواجهةِ النرويج ضمنَ منافساتِ المجموعةِ التاسعة في كأسِ العالم 👊
Presenting your Iraq lineup to take on Norway in Group I at the World Cup! 👊#IRQvNOR #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/pr9uzbys14
— Iraq National Team (@IraqNT_EN) June 16, 2026
Norway will line up in a 4-3-3 with the following starters: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Berge, Aursnes, Odegaard; Sorloth, Nusa; Haaland.
4:33: The crowd roars its approval when Haaland is shown walking into the stadium from the Norwegian bus. The buzz is building.
4:24: A Norwegian fan wearing a classic national team jersey was spotted wearing a kilt, nicely blending Boston’s local fanbases.
4:15: It’s beautiful day for World Cup soccer in sunny Foxborough, Mass. The temperature is a manageable 76 degrees (Fahrenheit), and a packed crowd of Iraqis and Norwegians.
4:00: Iraqi fans are excited to be back at a World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
Hayden Bird
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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