Norway Dominates Israel 5-0 in World Cup Qualifier

Erling Haaland's hat-trick propels Norway to 5-0 win over Israel

Norway's win over Israel puts them on the brink of a World Cup spot. Erling Haaland's hat-trick leads Norway to a 5-0 victory over Israel in World Cup qualifier.

Just over a minute after Haaland's goal, Israel's troubles deepened when goalkeeper Daniel Peretz's...

Erling Haaland's hat-trick propelled Norway to a 5-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Israel, marking their sixth consecutive win in the current cycle and ninth in a row, the country's longest-ever winning streak on the international stage.

The match began with Israel adopting a defensive approach, setting up a five-man backline. However, Norway's relentless pressure paid off early, with Haaland having the first shot on goal just two minutes into the match.

Haaland's impressive performance included a hat-trick, bringing his tally to 51 goals in 46 international appearances. The win has significant implications for the World Cup qualifying standings, with Norway moving closer to securing a spot in the tournament.

After a scuffle, the hosts were awarded a penalty, but the drama was far from over. Erling Haaland stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to have it saved by Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. However, the penalty was retaken due to encroachment. Peretz employed some mind games on the retake, diving to his left to save the penalty again, leaving Haaland visibly frustrated.

The visitors struggled to find their footing, with their first shot on target not coming until much later. Anan Khalaili's initial effort sailed wide, and his second attempt was even more wayward. Despite this, Israel showed promise, with Manor Solomon being particularly active and influential in the game.

The game's first goal came unexpectedly when Alexander Sorloth's floated cross, intended for Antonio Nusa, ricocheted off Anan Khalaili's shoulder and into the net after 18 minutes. The ball's trajectory changed as Khalaili turned away, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Norway's goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made two impressive saves to deny Israel, but their efforts were undone in the subsequent attack. Erling Haaland broke through the defense with a dynamic run and slid the ball past the goalkeeper, giving Norway a deserved lead and creating a noticeable gap between the two teams.

Just over a minute after Haaland's goal, Israel's troubles deepened when goalkeeper Daniel Peretz's attempted clearance inadvertently hit teammate Idan Nachmias and looped into the net for another own goal. The unfortunate deflection gave Norway a 2-0 lead and resulted in Nachmias being forced off the field with an injury.

The remainder of the first half was uneventful, with Norway maintaining their dominant position and controlling the tempo of the game. The hosts continued to press forward, leaving Israel to cope with the pressure as the break approached.

The second half began with a promising chance for Antonio Nusa, but he skied his effort, exemplifying the pattern of Norway dominating possession and creating scoring opportunities. Israel's approach seemed focused on preventing further goals, with sporadic forays upfield being quickly nullified by Norway's solid defense.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Herrelandslaget (@herrelandslaget)

Despite Manor Solomon and Dan Biton leading the charge, Israel's attacks were consistently thwarted due to a lack of supporting players. The game effectively ended as a contest when Nusa set up Erling Haaland with a perfect pass, and the striker headed home his 50th international goal for Norway, dashing Israel's hopes of a comeback.

Antonio Nusa continued to cause problems for Israel's defense with his clever playmaking. His perfectly weighted cross found Erling Haaland, who made no mistake in heading home his hat-trick goal, securing Norway's fifth goal of the match.

50 – Games taken to reach 50 senior international goals (select players):

Erling Haaland (Norway) – 46
Harry Kane (England) – 71
Neymar (Brazil) – 74
Kylian Mbappé (France) – 90
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) - 90
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 107
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 114… pic.twitter.com/eJpe7jJHb4

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 11, 2025

The win was all but sealed, and Norway eased off, knowing the game was won. The loss dealt a significant blow to Israel's World Cup qualifying hopes, leaving them outside the top two in Group I and making it even more challenging to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1970.