Haaland Scores 5 in Norway Historic 11-1 WCQ Victory

Manchester City's star Erling Haaland delivered a stunning performance as Norway demolished Moldova 11-1 in what marked the heaviest defeat ever suffered by a European nation in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

The Manchester City striker netted five goals, while substitute Thilo Esjgaard added four, propelling Norway a step closer to their first World Cup appearance since 1998. 

After five matches, Norway sit comfortably at the top of Group I with 15 points, six clear of second-placed Italy, who still have a game in hand. Moldova, meanwhile, remain bottom of the table without a single point.

Haaland set the tone early, providing a brilliant assist for Felix Horn Myhre’s opener in the sixth minute. 

He then struck himself in the 11th, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to notch his fifth goal in as many qualifiers. 

The Norwegian talisman completed his hat-trick before halftime, adding a fourth with a composed finish after pouncing on a rebound.

Martin Ødegaard got in on the action with a stoppage-time strike at the end of the first half, before Haaland headed in his fourth of the night shortly after the restart. 

He almost added a fifth minutes later, rattling the crossbar with another header.

Esjgaard came off the bench to pile on the misery, scoring twice around a Leo Østigård own goal. 

He then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 79th minute, before Haaland capped off the rout with Norway’s tenth.

The emphatic result ignited celebrations in Oslo, as Norway look firmly on course to book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.