Erling Haaland was once again the star of the show as Norway secured their progression to the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal. The prolific marksman’s brace keeps him firmly in the hunt for the adidas Golden Boot, matching a blistering start to the tournament alongside the world’s elite forwards.

With this victory, Norway joins Group I leaders France in the knockout stage, leaving both Senegal and Iraq eliminated with one group-stage match still to play.

Tense First Half Broken by Pedersen

Chances were at a premium during a tightly contested opening 40 minutes at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. However, Ståle Solbakken’s side began to find their rhythm as the interval approached.

The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when Marcus Holmgren Pedersen capitalized on a rare defensive error by Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly. Pedersen gleefully latched onto the loose ball and lashed it home to give the Norwegians a crucial halftime lead.

Haaland and Sarr Trade Blows

Norway wasted no time extending their advantage after the restart. Just three minutes into the second half, Martin Ødegaard unlocked the Senegalese defense with an inch-perfect pass. Haaland met the delivery with trademark composure, calmly slotting the ball home to ensure he has now scored in an astonishing 12 consecutive competitive appearances for his country.

Senegal refused to back down, and Ismaïla Sarr pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute to give the African nation a lifeline. Their hope was short-lived, however, as Haaland struck again just five minutes later, poking the ball in from close range to re-establish Norway’s two-goal cushion and take his international tally to an incredible 59 goals in 52 games.

A Grandstand Finish

Sarr managed to make Norway sweat deep into stoppage time, capitalizing on a late chance to score his second of the match and narrow the deficit to 3-2. Despite the late pressure, Norway held on through the final whistle to book their knockout berth.

The win sets up a mouthwatering final group clash against France, while Haaland’s hot streak places him in a direct, high-stakes tussle for the tournament’s Golden Boot against the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.