Norway Extends Lead to 3-1 Over Iraq on Østigard's 77th-Minute Header

Q: With France and Norway both winning, is the World Cup's toughest group already decided after just one match?

No. France and Norway have taken an early step toward qualification, but Group I is far from decided after one round. What is clear is that the group has lived up to its billing as the tournament’s toughest. Pre-tournament analysis identified Group I — France, Norway, Senegal and Iraq — as the strongest statistically, with France ranked among the world’s elite and both Senegal and Norway viewed as dangerous top-25-caliber sides. Tuesday’s results reinforced that: France beat Senegal 3-1, and Norway beat Iraq 3-1 behind two Erling Haaland goals. Those wins put France and Norway in the strongest position after Matchday 1, especially because goal difference is level and their head-to-head meeting in Boston on June 26 now looms as one of the biggest group-stage games of the tournament. But Senegal remain very much alive despite losing to France, and Iraq still have a realistic path if they can beat Senegal in the next round. The expanded 48-team format also matters. With more teams advancing than in past World Cups, one opening loss is damaging but not necessarily fatal. That makes it premature to say the group is settled, even if France and Norway now look like the front-runners. So the early picture is clearer, not final: France and Norway seized control, but the “group of death” is not decided yet.

1 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 16

Leo Østigard powered in a corner in the 77th minute to put Norway 3-1 ahead of Iraq at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
That cushion came after a quieter second half: the score was still 2-1 at the 70th-minute hydration break before Norway struck again minutes later.
Erling Haaland had already scored twice for Norway, including a second goal created by an Iraqi defensive and goalkeeping error after Ayman Hussein had headed Iraq level at 1-1.
Haaland nearly completed a hat trick late, but goalkeeper Jalal Hassan denied him, leaving Iraq needing a comeback from two goals down.