{"id":2908,"date":"2026-06-17T07:03:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T07:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2908"},"modified":"2026-06-17T07:03:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T07:03:33","slug":"fans-get-their-moneys-worth-in-foxborough-as-erling-haaland-and-norway-defeat-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2908","title":{"rendered":"Fans get their money\u2019s worth in Foxborough as Erling Haaland and Norway defeat Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FOXBOROUGH \u2014 There aren\u2019t too many deals to be had during this year\u2019s World Cup, with ticket prices often stretching well into the four figures. But the fans who trekked to Foxborough on Tuesday evening for Norway-Iraq got their money\u2019s worth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more A Republican and Democrat challenging Ed Markey walked into a debate \u2014 without the incumbent. Here are four takeaways.<\/a><\/p>\n

In one of the more reasonably priced matches of the tournament, the heavily pro-Norway crowd was treated to a delightful match, with Norway fighting off several furious Iraq chances to emerge with a 4-1 victory in the Group I opener for both squads.<\/span><\/p>\n

The man everyone came to see delivered in a big way, with Norway\u2019s Erling Haaland \u2014 the hulking, ponytailed, 6-foot-5-inch striker for Manchester City \u2014 accounting for two goals in the first half, in the 29th and 43rd minutes. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe occasion wasn\u2019t too big for him,\u201d Norway manager Stale Solbakken said. \u201cI had a good feeling before the game, the last two training sessions with him were very, very good, so I was quite comfortable that he would do it for us today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Iraq, playing in its second World Cup (1986), scored in the 39th minute and showed impressive grit throughout the night while creating several scoring chances, but was unable to keep pace. Norway put the match away with a third goal in the 76th minute, plus an Iraqi own goal six minutes into second-half stoppage time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/span><\/span>More coverage from the World Cup<\/div>\n

For New England fans who simply wanted to see a World Cup match, Tuesday\u2019s was the one to attend, with tickets going for $200 or less on the secondary market compared to $1,000 or more for last Saturday\u2019s match between Scotland and Haiti. Many of the luxury suites at Gillette Stadium, likely overflowing for next week\u2019s matches featuring England and France, were empty on Tuesday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was a night to celebrate for the majority-Norway crowd, in their red jerseys and Viking horn helmets. Though not quite as raucous as the visiting Scots last weekend, the Norwegians spent the evening chanting and celebrating with their synchronized Viking row that is becoming a social media sensation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tuesday\u2019s decisive victory was important for 31st-ranked Norway. With No. 3 France and No. 15 Senegal also in Group I, a win over No. 57 Iraq was essential. The Norwegians play Senegal next Monday in New York, then return to Foxborough to play France on June 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

Norway may be playing in its fourth World Cup and first since 1998, but it is hardly just happy to be here. The Norwegians\u2019 heavy investment in youth soccer over the last decade produced two of the world\u2019s best players in Haaland, 25, and midfielder Martin Odegaard, 27, the captain for Arsenal. Norway went 8-0 in World Cup qualifying, with its 37 goals eight more than any other squad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more The cost to overcome a Trump endorsement? $100 million. Plus more takeaways from Tuesday\u2019s primaries.<\/a><\/p>\n

Norway\u2019s strong play continued Tuesday night. The first goal by Haaland was a sliding tip-in on a cross from defender David Moller Wolfe. Haaland scored the winner 14 minutes later with pure hustle \u2014 he chased down a lazy pass from an Iraqi defender back to goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, and deflected the ball into the net when Hassan tried to clear it. Haaland had five shots on the night and almost secured the hat trick, but his point-blank shot in the 83rd minute was deflected away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Haaland now has 57 goals in 51 international matches. He is the first player since West Germany\u2019s Gerd M\u00fcller from 1966-74 to score 50 international goals averaging at least one per match.<\/span><\/p>\n

Iraq still is without a World Cup win after going 0-3 in its only other appearance 40 years ago. But the Lions of Mesopotamia showed impressive fight on Tuesday, tying the score in the first half and pressuring Norway with three great scoring opportunities in first-half stoppage time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was very, very proud of the first 65-70 minutes,\u201d said Iraq coach Graham Arnold, who coached Australia at the 2022 World Cup. \u201cA couple mistakes and players at this level will always punish you, so we need to learn lessons from our mistakes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It is part of the resilience Iraq has shown throughout the last several years. A team made up of players who grew up in a war-torn country, Iraq had the longest road of any World Cup qualifier, playing 21 matches from Basra to Jakarta, Manila, Seoul, and Mexico. Iraq was the 48th and final team to qualify, defeating Bolivia, 2-1, in March on a goal from striker Aymen Hussein.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hussein was Iraq\u2019s goal scorer Tuesday night, netting a header on a cross from Amir Al-Ammari. It must have felt cathartic for Hussein, who reportedly was questioned by immigration officials for seven hours last week after Iraq landed at Chicago\u2019s O\u2019Hare International Airport. Hussein was allowed into the country, but an Iraq team photographer was sent home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tuesday\u2019s match ultimately was not marred by a sprinkler malfunction at halftime that spewed gallons of water and a large quantity of sand into the penalty area. For the World Cup, FIFA required all stadiums with artificial turf to plant natural grass and install sprinkler and drainage systems underneath the field. After about 30 seconds of spewing water, the grounds crew turned off the sprinklers and furiously shoveled the sand back into the hole that had been created.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Billionaire Rick Jackson gets Georgia\u2019s GOP nomination for governor in Trump-defying win. Follow Live updates.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In one of the cheaper matches of the World Cup, Haaland and Norway put on a great show.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nFans get their money\u2019s worth in Foxborough as Erling Haaland and Norway defeat Iraq - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2908\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fans get their money\u2019s worth in Foxborough as Erling Haaland and Norway defeat Iraq - 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