Erling Haaland continued his sensational form for Norway, scoring a hat-trick to surpass 50 international goals in record time as his team thrashed Israel 5-0 in Oslo on Saturday. The win edges Norway closer to their first World Cup finals since 1998.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The match unfolded against the backdrop of political unrest, with hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanting “Free Palestine” to protest Israel’s actions in Gaza. Norwegian police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and made several arrests. Inside Ullevaal Stadium, a small group of Israeli fans waved flags and held a banner reading “Let the Ball Talk!”Norway now top Group I with 18 points, six ahead of second-placed Italy, who defeated Estonia 3-1 in Tallinn. The result leaves the Norwegians firmly in control as they aim for qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Israel, meanwhile, will face Italy in Udine on Tuesday, needing a win to stay in contention.Haaland became the fastest player in men’s international football to reach 50 goals, now boasting 51 in just 46 games. His first penalty was saved by Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, and even a retake was denied, but Norway surged ahead through an 18th-minute own goal by Anan Khalaili. Haaland added his first goal soon after, with Israel contributing another own goal through Idan Nachmias. He then completed the hat-trick with a header and a final nod-in, marking his sixth career international hat-trick.Other World Cup qualifiers results from Europe:Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty saved as Portugal narrowly beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0, with Ruben Neves scoring in injury time while honoring his late teammate Diogo Jota. Spain maintained a perfect qualifying record, defeating Georgia 2-0, while Turkey crushed Bulgaria 6-1. Albania claimed a historic 1-0 win at Serbia, keeping their World Cup hopes alive behind England in Group K.With the group stages heating up, Norway and Haaland appear unstoppable, but tense matchups, protests, and dramatic finishes across Europe ensure that the road to the 2026 World Cup will be anything but predictable.
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