Haaland scores twice as Norway outwit Senegal to reach World Cup knockout stages

Erling Haaland scored twice on Monday night as Norway advanced to the knockout stages at the World Cup for the first time following a pulsating 3-2 victory over Senegal in New Jersey.

Issued on: 23/06/2026 - 05:05Modified: 23/06/2026 - 05:24

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Marcus Pedersen scored Norway's opener just before half time.

Soon after the pause, Haaland doubled the advantage after running onto a sumptuous through ball from the Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard.

Haaland drove a shot past the Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into the top right hand corner to register his 58th goal for Norway in 52 appearances.

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Ismaila Sarr halved the deficit in the 53rd minute but Haaland restored the two-goal advantage with strike 59 five minutes later: a clever flick of the ball over Mendy into the goal.

Sarr stabbed the ball into the net to score his second goal of the game in second half stoppage time.

But Norway held on to win their second game of the tournament and progress to the last 32.

Game against France to decide pool winners

The jubilant Norway players celebrated with their equally ecstatic supporters in the stands by sitting down on the pitch and making a rowing movement while Odegaard beat a drum.

On Friday at the Boston Stadium, Norway will attempt to beat France.

They take on the 2022 finalists for top spot in Group I following France's 3-0 breeze past Iraq in Philadelphia.

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France skipper Kylian Mbappé scored twice and the Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé added the third in the victory that put France in pole position in the pool.

Senegal, who entered the tournament on the back of a surge to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, need to beat Iraq handsomely on Friday in Toronto and rely on results in other groups in order to move into the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

Iraq, who have also lost their two games, are also in with a chance of moving into the last 32.

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"For me now, it's all about Senegal," said the Iraq boss Graham Arnold after the defeat to France in a game that was delayed by two hours due to thunderstorms over Philadelphia.

"With the extended format of the eight third-placed teams going through, you know, we've still got a chance," he added.

"We have to get over this game quickly. And when I say we've got a chance, we've got to go out there against Senegal and beat Senegal. And then we've got a chance of getting one of those eight spots still."