Erling Haaland scored his first World Cup goals with a brace as Norway started their campaign with a 4-1 win over Iraq in Boston. Norway took the lead after 29 minutes as Sander Berge played David Moller Wolfe in on the left of the penalty area and his low cross was turned in at the back post by Haaland.
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Captain Kylian Mbappe became France’s all-time leading men’s scorer with a double against Senegal as they ran out 3-1 winners. France took charge after the break, with skipper Mbappe scoring in the 66th minute and substitute Bradley Barcola doubling their lead. A chaotic stoppage-time period saw Ibrahim Mbaye pull one back for Senegal, but just one minute later Mbappe had the final say with a stunning long-range strike.
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Iran drew their World Cup opener with New Zealand but emphatically won the support of the Iranian community inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, having overcome unprecedented obstacles just to play at these finals. The Asian team hit back twice through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi to force a 2-2 draw, with Eli Just grabbing a brace for the All Whites.
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Maxi Araujo rescued a point for Uruguay to deny Saudi Arabia another famous World Cup win as the sides drew 1-1 in Miami. The Saudis, who shocked eventual winners Argentina in their opener at the last World Cup, went ahead through Abdulelah Al-Amri in the first half but came under sustained pressure late on and failed to hold out against the two-time winners.
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Romelu Lukuku shrugged off fitness concerns to help spare Belgium’s embarrassment as they fought back for a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their opening match of the World Cup in Seattle. Lukaku, his country’s record goalscorer, was introduced in the 66th minute and within seconds was involved in the move that saw Mohamed Hany prod in an own goal to bring the two-time semi-finalists back on level terms.
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