Erling Haaland scored twice to help Norway secure a 3-2 victory over Senegal on Monday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey, ensuring the Vikings’ progression to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. Marcus Pedersen opened the scoring for Norway in the 43rd minute, stepping in as a substitute for an injured teammate. Haaland then extended the lead with goals in the 48th and 58th minutes, bringing his tournament tally to four.

Haaland’s first goal came off a precise pass from Martin Ødegaard, as he finished a swift counterattack with a left-footed shot past Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. His second goal showcased his ability to break through Senegal’s defense, volleying a right-footed shot from close range following a pass from Patrick Berg. The striker, now with 24 goals in his last 12 international matches, has scored in every game he has played for Norway during that span and stands second in the Golden Boot race, tied with Kylian Mbappé and one behind Lionel Messi.

Senegal, who had trailed 3-0, mounted a late fightback with goals from Ismaïla Sarr in the 53rd minute and again in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Despite the efforts, Senegal, making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, remains in a precarious position with two losses in the group stage. The team will need to defeat Iraq, which also has yet to earn points, to maintain any chance of advancing to the knockout phase as one of the best third-place finishers.

Norway improved to 2-0 and, along with France, has secured advancement from Group I. Both nations will face each other in the final group match on Friday, where Norway aims to top the group. Senegal, meanwhile, must rely on an unlikely victory against Iraq to keep hopes alive in the tournament.

Haaland’s continued scoring form and Norway’s resilient performance highlight their strong showing in this World Cup, while Senegal’s path forward becomes increasingly challenging following the defeat.