Norway 3-2 Senegal: Haaland double fires Vikings through as France showdown looms

Norway secured their spot successful the past 32 of the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph implicit Senegal astatine MetLife Stadium successful New York connected Sunday, arsenic Erling Haaland struck doubly to instrumentality his tourney tally to 4 goals and acceptable up a mouth-watering Group I decider against France.

A Ismaila Sarr brace gave Senegal anticipation aft Marcus Holmgren Pedersen's opener and 2 Haaland strikes had enactment brag Stale Solbakken's broadside firmly successful control, but Norway held connected to assertion six points from six and beforehand to the knockout rounds.

The effect leaves France and Norway — some already qualified — preparing for what amounts to a last matchday shootout for apical spot successful the group. France presently clasp the vantage connected extremity difference, with a tally of plus-five against Norway's plus-four.

Norway spell done to the knockouts! ?#FIFAWorldCup

Norway vs. Senegal: however did the crippled unfold?

Senegal dominated possession and threatened the Norway extremity passim the opening period, but the standout performer of the archetypal fractional was Edouard Mendy, who produced superb saves to contradict Kristoffer Ajer from a header and to support retired Martin Odegaard's effort pursuing a clever Haaland flick-on.

The Lions of Teranga could not support that antiaircraft resistance, however, arsenic Kalidou Koulibaly's mistake precocious successful the fractional allowed Marcus Holmgren Pedersen to thrust a almighty onslaught past the Senegalese goalkeeper.

Norway doubled their vantage aboriginal successful the 2nd fractional erstwhile Odegaard carried the shot done midfield earlier threading a objective through-ball to Haaland, who took 1 interaction and finished emphatically past Mendy.

It seemed acceptable to beryllium a comfy Norwegian evening, but Senegal refused to fold. Sarr pulled 1 backmost with a composed decorativeness from a flowing move, with Sadio Mane providing a good assistance to springiness the Lions of Teranga renewed hope.

Haaland had different ideas, however. The striker was successful the close spot astatine the close infinitesimal to pat location a Patrick Berg transverse and reconstruct the two-goal cushion, virtually ending the contest. Sarr added a 2nd successful stoppage time, but it was excessively little, excessively late.

Norway vs. Senegal: Haaland joins the contention with Messi and Mbappe

The aureate footwear contention astatine this World Cup gained different superior contender connected Sunday, though that volition travel arsenic nary surprise. Haaland's treble against Senegal took him to 4 goals successful the tournament, drafting level with Kylian Mbappe, who had struck doubly earlier successful France's triumph implicit Iraq.

Only Lionel Messi stands supra them astatine the apical of the scoring charts. The Argentina skipper besides netted doubly connected Sunday successful his side's triumph implicit Austria, taking his tourney tally to 5 goals and becoming the all-time starring scorer successful World Cup history.

The 'final' wrong the group: Norway vs. France

With qualification already secured for some sides, the last Group I fixture connected Friday 26 June successful Boston carries important weight.

France get astatine the showdown with the vantage — their superior extremity quality means they necessitate lone a gully to decorativeness apical of the group. Norway indispensable triumph to leapfrog the French and assertion archetypal place.

The reward for topping the radical could beryllium substantial, with a theoretically much favourable last-32 gully perchance awaiting the winner.

Beyond the mathematics, the fixture doubles arsenic an aboriginal introspection for some sides. France travel successful afloat of assurance connected the backmost of Mbappe's prolific form, portion Norway tin number connected a corporate that has impressed passim and a striker operating astatine the precise highest of his powers.

Group I whitethorn person had 2 wide favourites from the outset, but it present has a last matchday with each hallmark of a knockout necktie — and 2 of the champion strikers connected the satellite acceptable to settee it.