Erling Haaland, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker widely considered the most dangerous forward on the planet, will step onto a World Cup pitch for the first time on June 16, 2026. Norway faces Iraq in a Group I match at Boston Stadium, and the occasion carries weight that extends well beyond 90 minutes of football.
For Norway, this is a homecoming of sorts. The country hasn’t appeared at a World Cup since 1998, when they reached the round of 16. For Iraq, the drought is even longer, with their last qualification dating back to 1986.
Haaland’s qualifying numbers are absurd
Haaland scored 16 goals across the qualifying campaign. He has found the net in each of his last 10 competitive matches for Norway, racking up 27 goals in that stretch.
Iraq, returning to the tournament after a 40-year absence, will need to figure out how to contain a player who regularly dismantles Premier League defenses for fun.
