Nobody is more prolific as a scorer than Erling Haaland in all of football. The Norwegian striker has 55 career goals in 50 international matches, and bagged an absurd 16 goals in eight UEFA Qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. Now Haaland begins his Cup campaign, preparing to add more goals to his absurd total.
Haaland will open his 2026 World Cup campaign against Iraq at 6 p.m. ET, looking to power the Norwegians to victory once again.
Throughout the World Cup, DraftKings Network will highlight some of the tournament’s stars and track their performances in every match. Here’s how Haaland performed against the Lions of Mesopotamia:
Norway vs. Iraq odds
The Gresshingstene are -425 favorites to take all three points at DraftKings Sportsbook, and Iraq is +1200. There are +550 odds that the teams will split the points.
Erling Haaland prop bets, odds
- First Goalscorer: +175
- Anytime Goalscorer: -215
- 2+ Goals: +205
- Shots: 3+ (-750), 4+ (-290), 5+ (-130), 6+ (+155)
- Shots on Target: 1+ (-1400), 2+ (-260), 3+ (+115), 4+ (+295)
- Assists: 1+ (+350), 2+ (+3000)
- Offsides: 1+ (+125), 2+ (+650)
Tracking Erling Haaland
Follow along as DKNetwork tracks Haaland’s and Norway’s performance against Iraq! This section will be updated.
90+6′ – Cherry on top for Norway! They play one last ball into the box, and Haaland puts it sky high at the back post. Thorstvedt is there in a mess with the keeper and two defenders, and the ball rattles off a defender for a fourth Norwegian goal. That’s one way to close the game out, and it’s a 4-1 final in Boston.
Here are the final stats from Erling Haaland in his World Cup debut: two goals, four shots on target, four total shot attempts, and a trio of fouls drawn. That’s how you announce yourself.
90+1′ – Schjelderup plays the ball well into the left side of the box, and manages to scoot past his defender 1v1. The ball sits well for Thorstvedt, but his close-range attempt is wide of the net.
88′ – Time ticks down in Boston. The Norwegians are dominating possession as they look to ice out the win. Let’s see if they feel inclined to attack.
83′ – NEAR HATTY!! Another mistake for the Iraqi defense, and again the ball finds Haaland. 1v1 with the goalkeeper, the hat trick was his for the taking, but Hassan made a brilliant save to keep him from scoring a third.
76′ – MAKE IT A THIRD FOR NORWAY!!!! Beautiful 1-2 on the outside for the Norwegians as they look to extend the lead, and it goes behind for a corner. This time, the cross finds a head. Leo Østigard, who has been on the pitch for only four minutes, skies above the pack to nod that one into the net, and extend the Norwegian lead to 3-1.
72′ – We get a whopping six subs out of the advertising break: two for Iraq, and four for Norway. The two sides are prepping for a wild finish.
67′ – Another corner for the Norwegians, and Ryerson opts to play the short kick. The low cross is clattered out, and the Iraqi defense gets to reset.
63′ – These Iraqi crosses have been dangerous. Another effort to the far post produces a solid volley that goes over the net. They’re continuing to test this Norwegian back line, and are close to finding answers.
57′ – Inches away. Ryerson targets Haaland on the corner once again, and he just misses his striker, who is sniffing out a hat trick. The Iraqis clear the ball out before an injury to Ali Jasim stops play.
56′ – CHANCE!! Ryerson makes up for his whiffed free kick by playing a nice 1-2 on the right flank. His cross is only an inch from Haaland’s head, and the ball falls to Nusa, who wins a corner.
55′ – Nusa wins another free kick down the left flank, but Ryerson’s cross into the box is too low, and cleared with ease by the Iraqi defense.
53′ – The Iraqis are awfully determined for this equalizer. A good chain of link-up play through the center opens up a cross chance, and it’s Aymen Hussein on the receiving end once again, but his header goes wide of the net.
49′ – Once again, both sides are looking for early long balls to get in deep. An offside flag apiece is the result so far. But their feet are on the gas.
46′ – The second half is underway in Boston. What does Haaland have in store for us in the second half?
45+5′ – HOW IS THAT KEPT OUT??? Iraq gets a clean break through the defense, and Al Hamadi’s chance is deflected wide by the Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who comes out to challenge the clean break. On the corner, the ball clatters around, and Iraqi defender Akam Hashem nearly scores a worldie. His volley sails inches over the crossbar.
That was an unbelievable half of football. Get ready for another 45 minutes of end-to-end action.
45+3′ – Another HUGE chance for Iraq!! It’s Al-Ammari and Hussein linking up again. After a swing and a miss on the first shot, they recycle the ball and get a huge chance at the back post. Møller Wolfe gets a brilliant block on what would have been a sure equalizer. The ensuing header from the corner sails wide, and there will be no equalizer this trip down the pitch.
43′ – TWO FOR ERLING!!! What a terrible mistake for the Iraqis. Only minutes after their equalizer, their defense plays a terrible ball back to the goalkeeper, and Haaland pounces. The goalkeeper’s desperate clearance ricochets off Haaland, and it’s a first half brace for the superstar striker, putting his side up 2-1.
39′ – WHAT A COUNTER!!! The Iraqis seize back the momentum and level the match with a beautiful counter move. Amir Al-Ammari is unmarked on the edge of the box and plays the cutback across. Ayman Hussein rises over the crowd, making beautiful contact on the header to beat the goalkeeper. We’re all level in Boston as both strikers have a goal.
37′ – Again, Norway is on the offensive, and Haaland plays the ball to his teammates. Martin Ødegaard lines up the shot from outside the box, but it sails wide of the post.
34′ – Another corner for the Norwegians, and they had a chance to double up. Hassan couldn’t get a clean hand on the whipped corner, but his defenders were there in time to clear the ball out.
31′ – A quick Norwegian counter finds Haaland up the gut, and he lays the ball off to Sørloth, but his attempt is blocked aside with ease.
29′ – HAALAND GOALLLLLLL!!!!!! Norway breaks lightning fast out of central midfield, as Nusa and Møller Wolfe play a great overlap over the left side. Wolfe plays a beauty of a ball to the back post, and Haaland is there to guide it into the back of the net. What a gorgeous team goal. 1-0 Norway.
23′ – Once again, it’s Nusa making things happen down the left side, putting on the moves and drawing a foul just outside the box. Ryerson’s free kick produced a good luck, but Sørloth can’t make clean contact, and it’s an easy save for Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
20′ – CHANCE FOR HAALAND! Antonio Nusa breaks the press down the left side, getting a ball into the box, and it’s clattered aside for a corner. Haaland flies above the crowd to get his head on the corner, but it sails above the crossbar. A decent first chance for Norway’s superstar.
17′ – The press from both sides continues to break up play. It’s difficult for both the Norwegians and Iraqis to maintain possession. Will either side adjust tactics?
13′ – The ball sits down nicely for Iraqi striker Ali Al Hamadi at the edge of the box, but his shot attempt sails well over the bar. The high press from Iraq is producing good results so far.
12′ – Ryerson breaks down the right side after a good bit of midfield play for Norway, but he’s tackled hard, and the ball clatters out of bounds. Martin Ødegaard tries to create from the boundary, but his shot is easily claimed. Both sides are still looking for their first shot on target.
7′ – CHANCE! Haaland breaks down the right side and looks for the cutback to the middle, but the Iraqi goalie gathers it up. The Norwegians aren’t hesitating to bomb away with long balls down the side.
5′ – Iraq gets their first chance of the match off a set piece, but the header leaves them wanting. Norway counters with a long ball for Alexander Sørloth, but it’s over the touch line for a goal kick.
3′ – Nusa breaks into the box, but the ball just gets away from him with Haaland running alongside. Close to Norway’s first chance of the match.
1‘ – We’re underway in Boston!! The two sides are feeling each other out early.
Additional World Cup Coverage
For additional World Cup coverage from the DraftKings Network, check out the World Cup landing page here:
- Best Anytime Goal Scorer Picks for Tuesday, June 16th
- Norway vs. Iraq prediction, pick for Tuesday 6/16/26
- World Cup 2026: Norway vs. Iraq Lineups, Odds
NOTE: Prop bet rulings are subject to official scoring and could change after the match.
