World Cup 2026: Haaland double sends Norway past Senegal 3-2
Five goals in the rain: Norway hold off Senegal
Norway edged Senegal 3-2 in a breathless Group I tie at the World Cup 2026, played through the rain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford with Brazil's Wilton Pereira Sampaio in the middle. Erling Haaland was the difference, scoring twice after the interval to settle a five-goal contest that swung throughout the second half.
The numbers tell a familiar story of contrasting styles. Senegal dominated the ball with 58% possession to Norway's 42%, completing 430 passes to Norway's 282 and funnelling 134 deliveries into the final third against Norway's 60. Yet Norway were sharper where it counted, registering an expected goals figure of 2.2 to Senegal's 1.72 and turning seven shots on target into the decisive edge. With a clinical front line and a willingness to soak up pressure, Norway found a way to win a match Senegal arguably controlled.
How Norway and Senegal lined up at MetLife
Bench (15)
12 Tangvik · 13 Selvik · 4 Østigård · 15 André Bjørkan · 24 Langås · 25 Sælebakke Falchener · 19 Aasgaard · 22 Bobb · 21 Schjelderup · 18 Thorstvedt · 2 Thorsby · 6 Berg · 16 Pedersen · 11 Strand Larsen · 23 Petter Hauge
Bench (15)
23 Diaw · 1 Diouf · 2 Sarr · 14 Jakobs · 4 Seck · 24 Mendy · 6 Ismaël Ciss · 22 Sapoko Ndiaye · 13 Ndiaye · 17 Matar Sarr · 21 Diarra · 20 Mbaye · 7 Diao · 9 Bamba Dieng · 12 Ndiaye
From Pedersen's opener to Sarr's stoppage-time reply
Norway lost Jonas Ryerson early, with Marcus Pedersen introduced in the 13th minute. It proved a telling reshuffle. Just before the break, in the 43rd minute, Pedersen himself broke the deadlock to put Norway ahead at the interval.
The second half opened at pace. Martin Odegaard teed up Haaland in the 48th minute to double the lead, only for Senegal to respond through Ismaila Sarr five minutes later, Sadio Mane providing the assist. Haaland restored the two-goal cushion in the 58th minute, finishing a move started by Patrick Berg, who had come on at half-time.
Senegal threw on fresh legs and pressed for a way back, eventually finding one deep into stoppage time. In the 90th minute and three, Sarr struck again, set up by Nicolas Jackson, to claim his brace and set up a nervy finale. It came too late, though, and Norway saw out the win.
↑ M. Pedersen
↓ J. Ryerson
Substitution
🔄13’↑ M. Pedersen
↓ J. Ryerson
Substitution
M. Pedersen
Goal
⚽43’M. Pedersen
Goal
↑ P. Berg
↓ F. Aursnes
Substitution
🔄46’↑ P. Berg
↓ F. Aursnes
Substitution
E. Haaland
Assist M. Odegaard
Goal
⚽48’E. Haaland
Assist M. Odegaard
Goal
I. Sarr
Assist S. Mane
Goal
⚽53’I. Sarr
Assist S. Mane
Goal
↑ I. Jakobs
↓ M. Diouf
Substitution
🔄54’↑ I. Jakobs
↓ M. Diouf
Substitution
↑ I. Mbaye
↓ P. Gueye
Substitution
🔄54’↑ I. Mbaye
↓ P. Gueye
Substitution
E. Haaland
Assist P. Berg
Goal
⚽58’E. Haaland
Assist P. Berg
Goal
↑ M. Diaw
↓ E. Mendy
Substitution
🔄63’↑ M. Diaw
↓ E. Mendy
Substitution
↑ P. Ciss
↓ L. Camara
Substitution
🔄63’↑ P. Ciss
↓ L. Camara
Substitution
↑ A. Schjelderup
↓ A. Nusa
Substitution
🔄71’↑ A. Schjelderup
↓ A. Nusa
Substitution
↑ P. M. Sarr
↓ K. Koulibaly
Substitution
🔄72’↑ P. M. Sarr
↓ K. Koulibaly
Substitution
↑ L. Ostigard
↓ T. Heggem
Substitution
🔄84’↑ L. Ostigard
↓ T. Heggem
Substitution
↑ O. Bobb
↓ A. Sorloth
Substitution
🔄84’↑ O. Bobb
↓ A. Sorloth
Substitution
I. Sarr
Assist N. Jackson
Goal
⚽90+3’I. Sarr
Assist N. Jackson
Goal
A Norway win called, the goal glut less so
The futbol.so community leaned firmly towards Norway, and on the result they were vindicated. The consensus favoured a Norwegian victory, with the most popular scoreline a 2-1 win — the right outcome, if a touch shy of the goals that actually flew in.
There was nuance by country. Fans following from Colombia and Argentina both backed Norway, while the lean from Spain tipped towards Senegal and a 2-3 finish. The official forecast had Norway as the most likely winners and, strikingly, called the exact 3-2 scoreline. Reality landed closer to that projection than to the community's tidier prediction.
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Spain
Official forecast: 3-2
Video highlights
Erling Haaland Scores Again | Norway 3-2 Senegal | FIFA World Cup 2026™
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Highlights | Norway 3-2 Senegal | FIFA World Cup 2026™
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Norway 🆚 Senegal #FIFAWorldCupOnYT
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Erling Haaland Goal | Norway 3-2 Senegal | FIFA World Cup 2026™
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HIGHLIGHTS - Norway v Senegal | Goals Galore! | FIFA World Cup 2026
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Post-Match Press Conference: Norway's Ståle Solbakken On The 3-2 Win Over Senegal
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Post-Match Player Interviews: Norway 3-2 Senegal
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Noruega vs Senegal (3-2) | Resumen y goles | Highlights Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™
Only available in ES
Doppio HAALAND per la qualificazione | Norvegia-Senegal 3-2 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN Highlights
Only available in IT
Norway vs. Senegal FULL REACTION 🍿 Erling Haaland scores two goals | ESPN FC
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World Cup: Norway vs Senegal
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World Cup: Norway vs Senegal
No geo restrictionWorld Cup: Norway vs Senegal
No geo restrictionWorld Cup: Norway vs Senegal
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World Cup: Norway vs Senegal
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World Cup: Norway vs Senegal
No geo restrictionThe win confirms Norway's progress to the Round of 32, finishing on six points from three games. Senegal sit third in Group I on three points; as things stand they occupy one of the eight best third-placed berths and would provisionally advance, though that remains dependent on results elsewhere. Haaland, with his second double of the tournament, leaves as the headline act, but Senegal's late surge is a reminder of the quality that still has work to do before their place is secure.
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