Norway beats Senegal 3-2 to reach World Cup round of 32
- Last updated: June 23, 2026 | 10:23
Erling Haaland and Norway rowed their way into the World Cup's round of 32.
Haaland scored twice to raise his World Cup goals total to four, and the Vikings clinched advancement to the knockout rounds with a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night that was more of a slog than a sail.
"It’s my specialty to score goals,” Haaland said. "I’m just really good at scoring goals.”
After the final whistle, Norway's players and staff gathered tightly in a 10-row formation just inside the penalty area at MetLife Stadium's north end, facing their red-shirted supporters, Haaland sitting in front as teammate Martin Ødegaard banged on a bongo drum. They alternated with the fans performing the Viking Row - chanting "Ro!” while mimicking oarsmen.
"We’ve all seen it online and it’s been going completely viral, so Martin told me before the game, `What do you think? Should we join in?'" Haaland recalled.
"`If we win, let’s do it. So why not? Let’s go for it,'" Haaland said he responded. "So it was a perfect moment I think to do that."
Back in Norway, parliamentarians did the Viking Row last week in a show of support.
"It was fun,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. "We will not be rowing after the World Cup but this can be a gimmick during the tournament.”
Marcus Pederson put the Vikings ahead in the 43rd minute after replacing an injured teammate, and Haaland kept up his incredible goals streak in the 48th and 58th minutes to build a 3-1 lead.
"He's very efficient,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said through an interpreter.
Haaland ran onto Martin Ødegaard's pass and put a left-footed shot past the outstretched left hand of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, capping an end-to-end counterattack for a 2-0 lead.
For his second goal, Haaland tunneled through the defense and 8 yards out raised his weaker right foot to volley in Patrick Berg’s pass. Haaland raised a hand to an ear to inspire the Norway supporters.
Haaland has 24 goals in his last 12 international games - scoring at least once in every match - and 59 goals in 52 international appearances. The 25-year-old striker joined England's Harry Kane in 2018 as the only players in the last 50 years with two-goal games in both of their first two World Cup appearances.
Haaland is second in the Golden Boot race, one behind Argentina's Lionel Messi and tied with France's Kylian Mbappé. Haaland nearly got another in first-half stoppage time, hitting a post after Mendy lost control of the ball.
"He did miss an open goal. He could have scored even four,” Solbakken said. "He is the best striker - he is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.”
Ismaïla Sarr got both goals for the Lions of Teranga, in the 53rd minute and in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
"If we had just played slightly worse, then we would be in trouble,” Solbakken said.
Making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway (2-0) is assured of advancing from Group I along with France. The Vikings need to beat Les Bleus on Friday for first place and what would appear to be an easier path in the knockout bracket.
Senegal is 0-2 in a World Cup for the first time and needs a win over Iraq (0-2) to have any chance of advancing as a third-place team.
"We've got everything left to play for,” Thaw said.
Pederson entered in the 13th minute for his World Cup debut after Julian Ryerson couldn't play through what Solbakken said was a nagging injury, and Pederson put the Vikings ahead with the help of mistakes by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Mendy.
Mendy left in the 63rd minute because of an injury.
While there had been storm warnings, a downpour stopped more than 3 1/2 hours before kickoff. The skies opened again after the final whistle, causing announcements for fans to leave the stadium bowl for sheltered space.
"Let’s be happy,” Haaland said, "every single Norwegian on the planet today.”
Associated Press