After the break Iraq had less ball and fewer ideas. The shape held for a stretch but Norway's quality eventually told, with Tahseen picking up a booking late as the game opened up. There's no shame in losing to this Norway side, but a 4-1 scoreline is a tough way to start a group that already looked steep.
This was the Haaland show. He smashed in the 29th, capitalized on an Iraqi mistake in the 43rd, and even chipped in the assist on Thorstvedt's stoppage-time fourth in the 90+6. Whatever rust 28 years away from the World Cup might have left, he did not have any of it.
The supporting cast did its job too. Martin Odegaard pulled the strings and set up Ostigard's header in the 76th to restore the 2-goal cushion. Norway controlled possession, kept Iraq's chances rare after the equalizer, and walked off with the kind of opening result that makes the math very friendly.
The market had Norway as roughly an 80% favorite at Polymarket close and they cashed it without much drama. Over 2.5 hit, the spread covered, the chalk delivered — a clean night for anyone who took the obvious side.
The group picture is what matters now. France still owns it at 78.5% to win Group I, but Norway sit comfortably at 57% to reach the round of 16 with a result like this in the books. Iraq's path narrows to needing something against Senegal or France, and that is a very tall order.
Senegal0-5
France0-3
Norway1-4
Brazil2-1
Ivory Coast2-1France1-4Senegal3-2Iraq4-1