Erling Haaland observed from the stands as Alexander Isak netted a goal for Sweden in their 3-1 defeat to Norway on Monday, a matchup featuring two teams on the road to the FIFA World Cup.
Norway surged to a 3-0 advantage at Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadion, with two goals from Jørgen Strand Larsen and a strike from Antonio Nusa.
Liverpool forward Isak entered the match in the 62nd minute and made an immediate impression, scoring with a well-placed shot from inside the penalty area after an impressive run down the left flank.
This match highlighted the contrasting seasons of Haaland and Isak, the main offensive threats for their respective national teams. Haaland enjoyed a remarkable campaign, contributing to Manchester City‘s triumphs in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, while amassing 38 goals across all competitions in the 2025-26 season.
In contrast, Isak had a season marred by injuries, managing only 14 appearances for Liverpool and scoring just three goals after his high-profile transfer from Newcastle United last summer.
Both players are expected to spearhead their teams in the upcoming World Cup in North America this summer. Norway will compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Iraq. Meanwhile, Sweden will face off against Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F, aiming to advance to the round of 32.
In other pre-World Cup fixtures on Monday, Türkiye secured a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in Istanbul. Rising star Arda Güler, a Real Madrid talent who was sidelined towards the end of the LaLiga season, made a substitute appearance for Türkiye, who are grouped with the United States, Paraguay, and Australia in Group D.
This report utilized information from ESPN Global Research.