Norway’s Historic 11-1 Victory Over Moldova: Haaland’s Five-Goal Masterclass in World Cup Qualifier

Historic Triumph at Ullevaal Stadium

Norway achieved a remarkable 11-1 victory against Moldova in their European Qualifier match for the 2026 World Cup, with F. Horn Myhre opening the scoring in the 6th minute, followed by an extraordinary performance from Erling Haaland who netted five goals (11′, 36′, 43′, 52′, 83′).

Norwegian Dominance and Team Performance

The victory extends Norway’s impressive run of form, as they have remained unbeaten in all but one of their last 11 matches across all competitions, securing nine wins and one draw since September 2024. The team has been particularly strong at home, with six consecutive victories, scoring 17 goals and maintaining five clean sheets.

Norway’s lineup featured a strong 4-3-3 formation with key players including Martin Ødegaard, Sander Berge, and Alexander Sørloth supporting Haaland in attack.

World Cup Qualification Context

This match was part of UEFA Group I in the World Cup qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The group includes Estonia, Israel, Italy, Moldova, and Norway, with teams competing in a home-and-away round-robin format from March to November 2025.

Historical Significance

The victory holds particular importance for Norway, whose last World Cup appearance was in 1998, before Haaland was born. The team’s recent setbacks include missing out on the 2022 World Cup qualification, partly due to Haaland’s injury problems, and failing to qualify for the 2024 European Championship after finishing third in their group behind Spain and Scotland.

Looking Ahead

Led by Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard and the prolific Erling Haaland, Norway now carries high expectations of reaching the 2026 World Cup. The team is considered the favorite to win Group I, and this commanding victory certainly reinforces their position as strong contenders for qualification.