Haaland Propels Norway to Strong Start in World Cup Qualifiers

Erling Haaland showcased his exceptional talent once again, helping Norway to a convincing 5-0 victory over Moldova in their opening match of the World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament. The match took place on Saturday in Chisinau and marks a promising start for the Norwegian national team, which hopes to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998. ## A Historic Moment for Norwegian Football

Norway’s last appearance in a World Cup dates back to 1998, two years before Haaland's birth. As one of the sport's brightest stars, Haaland now leads a squad filled with promise and ambition, including Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard. Expectations are high as the Scandinavian team aims to win Group I, which includes competitors such as Estonia and Israel.

Haaland's Impressive Performance

In the match against Moldova, Haaland scored Norway's second goal, bringing his tally to an impressive 39 goals in just 40 appearances since making his debut in 2019. His early goal in the 23rd minute helped solidify Norway's dominance over a clearly outmatched opponent.

The scoring began when Julian Ryerson netted the first goal for Norway just five minutes after kickoff. Thelo Aasgaard, who assisted Ryerson’s opener, added a third goal. Before the half-time whistle, Ødegaard set up Alexander Sørloth for another goal, and substitute Aron Donnum wrapped up the scoring in the second half.

Aiming for Major Tournament Success

Haaland, who has already experienced significant success with Manchester City, including winning the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, is now focused on leading Norway to glory on the international stage. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from participating in Norway’s unsuccessful bid for qualification for the 2022 World Cup and contributed to the team’s disappointing third-place finish in the group stage of the 2024 European Championship qualifiers, where they fell behind Spain and Scotland.

As Norway embarks on this qualifying journey, Haaland’s contributions will be vital. The team’s performance against Moldova sets a positive tone as they look ahead, aiming to secure a spot in the World Cup hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026.