Erling Haaland keeps pace with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, scoring twice to send Norway into the Round of 32. Senegal suffers a second straight defeat and now faces a near-impossible task to stay alive at the 2026 World Cup.
Erling Haaland continues to make his mark on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Just hours after Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé both found the net for Argentina and France, the Manchester City striker answered with a brace of his own, leading Norway to an entertaining 3-2 victory over Senegal and securing qualification for the Round of 32 with a game to spare.
The Scandinavian side has emerged as one of the tournament’s most intriguing dark horses. Ståle Solbakken’s team now sits on six points and will face France in the final group-stage match with first place in Group I still up for grabs.
Norway started brightly, with Martin Ødegaard orchestrating play from midfield. After only four minutes, the Arsenal captain delivered a pinpoint cross for Kristoffer Ajer, whose powerful header was brilliantly saved by Édouard Mendy.
An injury to Julian Ryerson forced Solbakken into an early substitution, bringing on Marcus Pedersen, a change that would prove decisive.
Senegal gradually grew into the game and threatened through Nicolas Jackson, but their defensive frailties once again proved costly. In the 43rd minute, Kalidou Koulibaly miscontrolled a clearance and gifted possession to Pedersen, who drove into the penalty area and fired past Mendy at the near post for his first international goal.
Norway nearly doubled its advantage before halftime after another mistake from Mendy. Haaland stole the ball from the goalkeeper but saw his effort from a tight angle crash against the post.
The second goal arrived only three minutes into the second half. Ødegaard launched a rapid counterattack and delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Haaland, who calmly slotted his left-footed finish under the crossbar.
Senegal responded quickly. A flowing move down the flank allowed Ismaïla Sarr to dart into the box and poke the ball beyond Ørjan Nyland in the 53rd minute, giving the African side renewed hope.
But Haaland had the final say.
Five minutes later, Norway’s star striker struck again, completing his second consecutive World Cup brace and restoring a two-goal cushion. The goal moved him level with the tournament’s leading scorers and reinforced his reputation as one of the most lethal forwards in international football.
Senegal managed to pull one back in stoppage time through Sarr’s second goal of the night, but it was too little, too late.
With two defeats in two matches and a goal difference of minus three, Pape Thiaw’s side now needs a miracle to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
Norway, meanwhile, continues to dream big.
Match Report
Norway 3-2 Senegal
Norway (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson (13′ Pedersen), Ajer, Heggem (84′ Østigård), Møller Wolfe; Ødegaard, Berge, Aursnes (46′ Berg); Nusa (71′ Schjelderup), Haaland, Sørloth (84′ Bobb).
Coach: Ståle Solbakken.
Senegal (4-3-3): Édouard Mendy (63′ Diaw); Krépin Diatta, Koulibaly (72′ Mamadou Sarr), Niakhaté, El Hadji Malick Diouf (54′ Jakobs); Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye (54′ Ibrahim Mbaye), Habib Diarra (63′ Pathé Ciss); Ismaïla Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mané.
Coach: Pape Thiaw.
Referee: Not announced.
Goals: 43′ Pedersen (Norway), 48′ Haaland (Norway), 53′ Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), 58′ Haaland (Norway), 90+3′ Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal).
Bookings: None.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Philadelphia.
