Norway Opens World Cup Qualifying Campaign with 5-0 Victory Over Moldova

Erling Haaland played a pivotal role in Norway's dominant 5-0 victory over Moldova, marking a strong start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. This win is significant for Norway, who last participated in a World Cup in 1998, and they are now aiming to capitalize on their promising roster, including key players like Martin Ødegaard. Haaland scored the second goal, contributing to his impressive tally of 39 goals in 40 international appearances since his debut in 2019. Meanwhile, Wales also kicked off their qualifying efforts successfully, defeating Kazakhstan 3-1, as they seek a second consecutive World Cup appearance following their participation in 2022. In other matches, the Czech Republic secured a narrow 2-1 win against the Faroe Islands, with Patrik Schick scoring both goals for his team. The European qualifying stage will continue through November, with 16 teams from the region vying for spots in the expanded 48-team World Cup next year.