Erling Haaland continued to assert himself as a dominant presence at the 2026 World Cup, scoring twice as Norway secured a 3-2 victory over Senegal in East Rutherford, New Jersey. His brace took him to a total of five goals in the tournament, placing him just behind Lionel Messi, who has six, and alongside Kylian Mbappe, who also has five. All three players have delivered compelling performances early in the competition, highlighting their status as frontrunners in the race for the Golden Boot.
The World Cup action unfolded across several North American cities on the same day, with Lionel Messi opening the scoring for Argentina in Dallas, contributing both goals in a win over Austria. Meanwhile, 1,500 miles to the east in Philadelphia, Mbappe netted twice for France as they defeated Iraq. Shortly after, Haaland took center stage in New Jersey, matching his two-goal tally to keep Norway’s hopes alive.
With two wins from two matches, Norway has positioned itself as a strong contender in Group I, setting up an eagerly anticipated clash on Friday night in Boston between France and Norway. The outcome will determine which team tops the group: the winner will advance to face a third-placed team at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while the runner-up will travel to Dallas to face the second-placed team from Germany’s Group E.
Despite his scoring exploits, Haaland tempered expectations ahead of the upcoming match, acknowledging France as heavy favorites both in their direct encounter and potentially to win the tournament. “Honestly, I don’t care too much. We’re through. We managed to get through, which is incredible, so I don’t care too much about that game,” Haaland said following Norway’s victory over Senegal. He added, “They’re probably going to win against us, they’re probably going to win the whole tournament.”
Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken, expressed pride in his side’s performance and in Haaland’s goal-scoring form, though he humorously noted the striker’s missed opportunity—a shot that struck the post despite an open goal. Solbakken emphasized Haaland’s importance, stating, “He’s the best striker – he is not playing for France or Argentina, he scores for Norway.” He also pointed to the difference in team dynamics, suggesting it is generally easier to compete for the Golden Boot when playing for football powerhouses like France or Argentina. Solbakken said Norway would seek to provide Haaland with additional support in the remaining matches to sustain his scoring momentum.
Alongside Norway’s rise, the tournament is also marked by the return of teams such as Norway and Scotland, with head coaches like Solbakken and Steve Clarke steering their nations back to World Cup competition for the first time since 1998. The performances of Haaland, Messi, and Mbappe continue to captivate audiences as the tournament develops toward its decisive stages.