Heroic Haaland fires Norway to 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway secured their place at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years after thrashing Italy at the San Siro.

Norway’s place at the tournament was already all but assured due to their vastly superior goal difference, but an emphatic win in Italy sealed their place at the 2026 tournament with a perfect record.

Having opened the campaign with a 3-0 win over the Italians, Norway concluded their campaign with a similarly stunning result.

After Pio Esposito’s early opener, Norway scored four times without reply after half-time. Antonio Nusa equalised for the visitors just after the hour, before a quick-fire double from Haaland made the result safe. Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen wrapped up a remarkable result in stoppage time.

Norway have not featured in a major tournament since 2000, but Haaland will now showcase his extraordinary goalscoring at the World Cup.

His double to down Italy made it 16 goals in just eight qualifiers, double the total of the next-highest scorers in Europe’s qualification phase.

His record for Norway is now 55 goals in just 48 caps, having shattered the nation’s all-time goal record, the 33 goals of Jorgen Juve, which had stood for 90 years.

He’s scored in each of his last 11 appearances for the national team, last failing to find the net against Austria in October 2024. During that run, he’s scored 21 goals, including 12 in his last four. The numbers are astonishing.

Next summer, Haaland will lead Norway’s ‘Golden Generation’, alongside Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, to the biggest stage of all.

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