After Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland also scored two goals in the night just ended. And thanks to Norway, they won (3-2) the match against Senegal in Group I.
The Nordics started with more determination and had the first opportunity to score after three minutes, when defender Ajer sent a header from 6 meters after a corner, but goalkeeper Mendy rejected the ball. Then (min. 37), Odegaard was served very well by Haaland, but missed even though he was alone with Mendy in front.
The Africans reacted, but the executions of Jackson (min. 27), Gana Gueye (min. 39) and Camara (min. 41) did not endanger the goal of the Norwegians.
The opener came in the 43rd minute when defender Holmgren Pedersen, who came on for Ryerson (injured), headed into the short corner after Koulibaly’s wrong clearance.
Before the break, Haaland sent the ball into the Africans’ goal after a blunder by goalkeeper Mendy, who then saved the northerner’s header (min. 45+4).
Halland scored immediately after the break
The second half also started with the Europeans attacking. And Norway broke away immediately after the break (min. 48), when Haaland scored after being perfectly launched by Odegaard.
The Africans responded through Jackson (min. 52), but Nyland retained the ball headed by the Bayern Munich striker. A minute later, the falling Ismaila Sarr, well found by Mane, reduced the gap.
Haaland came out again on the ramp, who achieved the “double”, scoring from 8 meters (min. 58), from Berg’s cross. City’s striker thus reached 59 goals scored in 52 selections.
In the 75th minute, Moeller Wolfe had an intervention on Gana Gueye in the Norwegian box, but the referee did not award a penalty.
Senegal forced the tie at the end of the match
At the end, Bobb (min. 90) sent from 12 meters, and the ball was rejected by Pathe Ciss. Senegal scored another goal through Ismaila Sarr (min. 90+3), from Jackson’s pass, and then forced the tie. The same Sarr (min. 90+9) wasted the last chance, sending the ball over the goal, with his head, from 4 meters.
Eight U.S. stadiums are in the world’s Top 10 in seating capacity
On June 26, at 23.00, the last games in the group are scheduled. Senegal and Iraq retain chances to qualify further from 3rd place, but must win by a wide margin. Norway and France will then also compete for the head of the group.
Norway – Senegal 3-2 (1-0)
NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY (June 23, 2026) * Stadium: New York / New Jersey * Spectators: 80,663 * Referee: Wilton Sampaio * Assistant referees: Bruno Pires, Bruno Boschilia (all from Brazil) * Referee no. 4: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand) * Video Assistant Referee: Isaac Trevis (New Zealand) * Video Referee: Rodolpho Toski (Brazil) * Assistant referees: Juan Lara (Chile), Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Poland)
They scored: Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (min. 43), Erling Haaland (min. 48, 58), respectively Ismaila Sarr (min. 53, 90+3).
Norway: 1. Orjan Nyland – 26. Julian Ryerson (16. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, 12), 3. Kristoffer Ajer, 17. Torbjoern Heggem (4. Leo Ostigard, 84), 5. David Moeller Wolfe – 10. Martin Odegaard (capt.), 8. Sander Berge, 14. Fredrik Aursnes (6. Patrick Berg, 46) – 7. Alexander Soerloth (22. Oscar Bobb, 84), 9. Erling Haaland, 20. Antonio Nusa (21. Andreas Schjelderup, 71).
Unused reserves: 12. Sander Tangvik, 13. Egil Selvik – 15. Fredrik Andre Bjoerkan, 24. Sondre Langas, 25. Henrik Falchener, 2. Morten Thorsby, 18. Kristian Thorstvedt, 19. Thelonious Aagaard, 23. Jens Petter Hauge, 11. Joergen Strand Larsen.
Coach: Solbakken stables.
Senegal: 16. Edouard Mendy (23. Mory Diaw, 63) – 15. Krepin Diatta, 3. Kalidou Koulibaly (capt. / 17. Pape Matar Sarr, 72), 19. Moussa Niakhate, 25. El Hadji Malick Diouf (14. Ismail Jakobs, 54) – 8. Lamine Camara (6. Pathe Ciss, 63), 5. Idrissa Gana Gueye, 26. Pape Gueye (20. Ibrahim Mbaye, 54) – 18. Ismaila Sarr, 11. Nicolas Jackson, 10. Sadio Mane.
Unused reserves: 1. Yehvann Diouf – 2. Mamadou Sarr, 4. Abdoulaye Seck, 24. Antoine Mendy, 21. Habib Diarra, 22. Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, 7. Assane Diao, 9. Bamba Dieng, 12. Cherif Ndiaye, 13. Iliman Ndiaye.
Coach: Pope Thiaw.
Group I
Matches played
June 16, 2026
France – Senegal 3-1
June 17, 2026
Iraq – Norway 1-4
June 23, 2026
France – Iraq 3-0
Norway – Senegal 3-2
Ranking
1. France 6 points (+5)
2. Norway 6 points (+4)
3. Senegal 0 points (-3)
4. Iraq 0 points (-6)
Next games
June 26, 2026
23.00: Norway – France
23.00: Senegal – Iraq
