Iraq scores only its second World Cup goal ever, equalizes against Norway in historic match

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Forty years is a long time to wait for anything. For Iraqi football fans, the wait between World Cup appearances stretched from 1986 to 2026, and when Aymen Hussein’s header hit the back of the net in the 39th minute against Norway, four decades of anticipation erupted into a single, euphoric moment.

Iraq scored only its second goal in World Cup history to equalize 1-1 against Norway in their Group I opener at Boston Stadium on June 16. The Lions of Mesopotamia ultimately fell 2-1, but the scoreline barely captures the significance of what happened on the pitch.

Haaland opens, Hussein answers

Norway, entering the tournament as one of the favorites with an undefeated qualifying campaign, struck first through Erling Haaland in the 29th minute.

Amir Al-Ammari delivered a cross, and Aymen Hussein rose to meet it with a header that drew Iraq level at 1-1. To put that in perspective: the only other Iraqi player to score in World Cup history was Ahmed Radhi, who found the net against Belgium in 1986. Hussein’s goal wasn’t just a statistic. It was a generational bookmark.

The equalizer stood for just four minutes. Haaland restored Norway’s lead in the 43rd minute, completing his brace before halftime. The final score read 2-1 in Norway’s favor.

A 40-year road back to the World Cup

Iraq’s only previous World Cup appearance came in 1986 in Mexico, where they faced Belgium, Paraguay, and host nation Mexico. They lost all three group games and went home with a single goal to show for it, Radhi’s strike against Belgium.

The breakthrough came earlier in 2026, when Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff. Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein scored the goals that ended the 40-year drought.

Coach Graham Arnold, the Australian tactician who took charge of Iraq’s campaign, built a squad designed to compete rather than merely participate.