Throwback: Erling Haaland’s Nine-Goal Explosion Still Echoes as Norway Return to U20 World Stage
As Norway prepare to face Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, memories of one unforgettable night in 2019 still shine brightly.
That year, an 18-year-old Erling Braut Haaland announced himself to the world in incredible fashion — scoring a record nine goals in a single match as Norway thrashed Honduras 12-0 in Lublin, Poland.
A Night to Remember
Haaland, then playing for Red Bull Salzburg, found the net four times in the first half, including a penalty, as Norway stormed into a 5-0 lead. He wasn’t done.
Just five minutes after the break, the tall striker added his fifth. He kept going and bagged four more, including two in the final three minutes of the match.
Despite the stunning display, Haaland later said he was slightly annoyed he didn’t score with his final shot of the game.
“It annoys me a little bit that I didn’t score with my last kick,” he told the Norwegian Football Association at the time.
Norway Crashed Out Despite Record Win
Ironically, that 12-0 win wasn’t enough for Norway to reach the knockout stage. They had lost their first two group matches against Uruguay and New Zealand, and the big win only gave them a slim chance of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams.
Honduras, on the other hand, had a nightmare tournament — finishing with zero points, no goals, and two red cards in their final game.
Fast Forward to 2025: A New Generation Takes Over
Now, six years later, Norway are back at the U20 World Cup for the first time since that 2019 campaign. And although Haaland has gone on to become a superstar at Manchester City, his record still stands tall as a proud moment in Norway’s football history.
Norway’s U20 head coach Bjorn Johansen is hoping to write new history this time around, starting with their Group F opener against Nigeria.
“We had hoped to avoid certain teams, but now we get to test ourselves against strong opponents like Nigeria,” Johansen said.
“They are known for their strength and physicality, but we are prepared and looking forward to the challenge.”
A First-Ever Meeting
This will be the first time Nigeria and Norway meet at a FIFA U20 World Cup. It’s a fresh test for both sides, who are also grouped with Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
While Nigeria are regulars at this level — reaching the quarterfinals in 2023 and finishing as runners-up twice (1989 and 2005) — Norway are yet to go beyond the group stage.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will kick off their 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup campaign on Monday when they take on Norway at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca in Chile.
The match is scheduled to start at 8PM, and both teams will be hoping to get off to a strong start in Group F.
Can Norway Build on Haaland’s Legacy?
The spotlight will once again be on Norway’s young talents as they aim to make a deeper run in the tournament this time. And though Haaland won’t be there, the memory of his nine-goal heroics in 2019 will surely inspire this new generation to rise to the occasion.
