Norway will make their return to a major international football tournament for the first time since the Euro 2000, with star striker Erling Haaland leading the team as they prepare to face Iraq in their opening match in Massachusetts. The highly anticipated game marks the country’s World Cup debut after a 26-year absence, following a successful qualification campaign that saw Haaland score an impressive sixteen goals in eight matches.

Under the management of Stale Solbakken, the Norwegian squad arrived in the United States dressed in traditional attire and posed by their iconic fjords, embracing their Viking heritage ahead of the tournament. This cultural display was intended as a show of strength and national pride as they ready themselves for a challenging group stage.

Haaland, who turns 26 next month, has never played or witnessed Norway compete on football’s biggest stages despite a prolific club career at Manchester City, where he has won eight major trophies. Born in Leeds and the son of Alf-Inge Haaland, a former Norway international who played at the 1994 World Cup, Erling expressed his deep desire to finally represent his country at a major tournament. He said that when he first made his international debut in 2019, qualifying for a World Cup or European Championship was his primary goal.

Reflecting on past tournaments, Haaland revealed that he had often rooted for other nations, including England, due to his upbringing. However, he now aims to create lasting memories with Norway on the international stage. “We’re doing well in all the winter and summer sports so it’s about time we performed in football,” he remarked.

Norway’s entry into a World Cup group also featuring Senegal and France means a difficult path forward. Haaland acknowledged the challenges ahead and emphasized the unpredictability inherent in the tournament. “Every team that is in the World Cup has something special,” he said. “You always get teams you maybe expect to do this or that — and then suddenly they do something incredible.”

Iraq, led by Australian coach Graham Arnold, enters the competition as underdogs but will face initial pressure against the reinvigorated Norwegian side. Norway’s season of hope and ambition begins tonight as they seek to advance beyond the group and make a significant impact on football’s global stage.