Erling Haaland produced another masterclass as Norway thrashed Israel to take a major step toward qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998.
The Manchester City striker missed two early penalties — both saved by Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who also stopped the retake after encroachment — but it wasn’t long before Norway took control.
Israel fell behind when midfielder Anan Khalaili inadvertently headed Alexander Sørloth’s cross into his own net, before Haaland doubled the lead with a composed right-footed strike.
Just a minute later, Norway added a bizarre third when Peretz’s attempted clearance bounced off defender Idan Nachmias and rolled into the net.
Haaland then rose highest to power home a header for his second, before completing his hat-trick by nodding in Antonio Nusa’s pinpoint cross at the far post.
The 25-year-old, already Norway’s all-time leading scorer, now boasts 51 goals in 46 international appearances.
His sixth international hat-trick leaves him just four behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s joint record of 10 for their respective countries.
The victory puts Norway firmly in charge of Group I, nine points clear of second-placed Italy, although Gennaro Gattuso’s side have two games in hand.
Group winners qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Norway next face Estonia in Oslo on 13 November before a potentially decisive meeting with Italy three days later.
The match was played against a charged political backdrop, with a large pro-Palestinian demonstration taking place in Oslo before kick-off.
Protestors later marched to Ullevaal Stadium, demanding Israel’s suspension from international football.
The calls intensified after a recent UN inquiry accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza — a claim strongly denied by Israel.
The Norwegian Football Association had already announced it would donate ticket revenue from the game to Doctors Without Borders.
Despite a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas under a US-brokered peace deal, organisers allowed the demonstration to proceed.
Security was tightened and stadium capacity reduced as precautionary measures.
At kick-off, a giant Palestinian flag was unfurled by spectators — an act that could draw disciplinary action from UEFA, which bans political symbols inside stadiums.
