Haaland shines again with a brace, Norway secures a place in the Round of 16 of the tournament

Norway has become the sixth team to mathematically secure qualification for the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The Nordic national team defeated Senegal 3-2 at “MetLife Stadium” in a match valid for the second round of Group I. Alongside Norway, France has also secured a place in the next stage.

The Norwegians looked more determined from the opening minutes and managed to convert their dominance shortly before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Marcus Pedersen broke the deadlock and gave his team the lead.

The second half started in the same rhythm for Norway. Martin Ødegaard provided a brilliant assist for Erling Haaland, who scored a beautiful goal for 2-0. Senegal reacted quickly and reduced the deficit through Ismaïla Sarr in the 53rd minute.

However, just five minutes later, Haaland scored again, restoring Norway’s two-goal advantage. The Manchester City striker recorded his second consecutive brace in this World Cup and raised his total to four goals.

The final minutes brought more drama, as Ismaïla Sarr scored his second personal goal to make it 3-2. Despite Senegal’s pressure, Norway managed to hold on to the lead and take all three points.

After two matches, France leads Group I with six points, level with Norway, with both teams already securing qualification for the Round of 16. Senegal and Iraq remain without points and will face each other in the final group match, aiming for a win to stay in contention for a possible qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. Meanwhile, France and Norway will meet in the other group fixture.

Group I standings:

“KORÇA BOOM”