Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hasan apologizes after Norway defeat

OSLO, Norway — Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hasan apologized to Iraqi football fans after his team lost 4-1 to Norway in their opening Group E match of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday. Speaking to beIN Sports, Hasan acknowledged that the match against a side featuring globally recognized forwards had been difficult, and said the heavy second-half result was unexpected after a strong first-half performance. The result marked Iraq's return to the World Cup after a 40-year absence. Hasan said the group, which also includes France, was the toughest in the tournament. He noted that Iraq had played 21 matches in qualifying, dealing with coaching changes and travel fatigue along the way. Hasan said the team needed to put the defeat behind them and focus on their remaining two group matches. He added that three points in the next fixture would be enough to advance to the knockout stage, and expressed hope that Iraq would deliver a performance befitting the country's football history.