Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Norway defeated Israel 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo, overshadowing pre-match pro-Palestine demonstrations and a heavy security presence. The Manchester City striker missed an early penalty but recovered to lead his side to a convincing victory that puts them on the brink of a first World Cup appearance since 1998.
The match went ahead despite calls from the Norwegian Football Federation for sanctions against Israel over the location of Israeli teams in occupied Palestinian territory. Federation president Lise Klaveness had previously stated that Israel should be banned. Around 1,500 protesters marched from central Oslo to the Ullevaal Stadion, waving Palestinian flags and distributing red cards.
Security was tight throughout the day, with police escorting a handful of Israeli journalists away from the protest after an exchange with a member of the public. Inside the stadium, a Palestine flag was unfurled alongside a banner reading 'Let children live'. A pitch invader, identified by local media as serial protester Mario Ferri, was tackled by security in the eighth minute.
Norway now need only a win against Estonia next month to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup. Israel, meanwhile, are eliminated from contention. The result also puts pressure on Italy, who face a likely playoff to qualify.
