Norway Defeats Israel 5-0 Amid Pro-Palestinian Protest
OSLO, Norway (AP) — Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to become the fastest player in international history to reach 50 goals as Norway thrashed Israel 5-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match on Saturday night. The victory, which saw Haaland pass the milestone in record time, edged Norway closer to qualifying for its first World Cup finals since 1998.
The match was played amidst a backdrop of tension and controversy, as hundreds of people attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside Ullevaal Stadium, chanting "Free Palestine" to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Norwegian police dispersed the gathering with tear gas, but not before several protesters were arrested.
"We are proud of our team's performance tonight," said Norway coach Stale Solbakken after the match. "Haaland is an incredible player, and his goals were crucial to our victory."
The 22-year-old Haaland, who plays for Manchester City in the English Premier League, has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 25 goals in just 15 appearances. His hat-trick against Israel took him past the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who both reached 50 international goals in their careers.
The match was also notable for its lack of Israeli fans, with many choosing to boycott the game due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli Football Association had initially threatened to withdraw from the match if the pro-Palestinian demonstration went ahead, but ultimately decided not to take action.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier is part of a larger tournament that will see 32 teams compete for a spot in the finals. Norway's victory over Israel has put them firmly in contention for one of the four qualifying spots available from Europe.
As the conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to simmer, the football match provided a brief respite from the tensions. However, the issue is unlikely to go away anytime soon, with many calling for greater action to be taken by FIFA and other international organizations to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The next match in Group E will see Norway face off against Switzerland on November 15, while Israel will play against Albania on November 18. The stakes are high, but one thing is certain: Erling Haaland will be a player to watch as he continues to break records and score goals at an incredible rate.
AP Sports Writers, Oslo, contributed to this report.
*Reporting by Aljazeera.*
