- Erling Haaland scored five goals and gave two assists in Norway’s 11-1 win over Moldova.
- Martin Ødegaard added a goal and two assists while Thelo Aasgaard netted four from the bench.
- Norway matched the record margin for a European World Cup qualifier.
- The team is now six points clear at the top of Group I.
Erling Haaland put on a show in Oslo, scoring five times as Norway thrashed Moldova 11-1. The Manchester City forward also provided two assists, proving unstoppable in front of his home fans. He set up Felix Horn Myhre’s opener in the sixth minute before hitting a quick hat-trick within half an hour.
Arsenal star Martin Ødegaard controlled the midfield, creating chances and scoring Norway’s fifth goal. Thelo Aasgaard came off the bench to make a huge impact, netting four goals in the second half. Moldova’s only moment came when Leo Østigård put the ball into his own net in the 74th minute.
The win equalled the biggest margin in a European World Cup qualifier, first set by Macedonia in 1996. It was also only the third time Norway had scored 11 in one game, just short of their record 12-0 victory against Finland in 1946. Haaland has now reached 48 goals in 45 appearances for his country, including five international hat-tricks.
Norway, which last played at a World Cup in 1998, are now six points clear of Italy after winning all five of their group games. With Israel and Estonia still to play, their clash with Italy on 16 November could decide who qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup.
