FIFA International Friendly | Sunday, 7 June 2026 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey, USA | Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Brahim Diaz scored in the eighth minute. Norway spent the next 67 chasing it.
Martin Ødegaard got it back in the 75th. Left foot, bottom right corner, assisted by Oscar Bobb. One goal each. The last game before the World Cup for both nations ended 1-1 and neither coach looked particularly thrilled at the final whistle.
That is two World Cup teams — one playing Brazil on June 13, the other facing Iraq on June 16 — leaving Red Bull Arena in New Jersey without a win. Make of that what you will.
The setting was unusual. A neutral venue in the United States, four days before the tournament begins. Morocco had chosen this location deliberately — acclimatising, using the facilities, getting a feel for American pitches and conditions. Norway were there for the same reasons. The crowd was a mix — Morocco have a significant diaspora in the US and they made more noise than Norway’s small following.
Diaz got the opener and it was pure quality. Eight minutes in, barely any time for either team to settle, and the AC Milan forward turned and struck quickly inside the box before Leo Østigård could get close enough to challenge. Bounou’s distribution had found Ounahi, Ounahi worked it to Diaz, and that was it. Morocco 1-0. Early. Too early for Norway, who had barely woken up.
Haaland worked throughout the first half without finding the moment. Eleven corners for Norway across the whole game — they kept winning set pieces and threatening from them without turning any into goals. Saibari went close at the other end. Ezzalzouli had a couple of moments that troubled Norway’s backline. Morocco had the better of it before half-time. Possession 46-54, Morocco creating the sharper openings. The half-time whistle came with the score unchanged.
The second half was more even. Ståle Solbakken made his changes and Norway pushed higher. Bobb came on and started affecting the game immediately — his direct running and quick passing in the final third was exactly what Norway needed to unlock Morocco’s shape.
The equaliser came in the 75th minute. Bobb drove at the Morocco defence, found Ødegaard arriving from deep, and the Arsenal captain — playing his last match before the World Cup — swept it into the bottom right corner with his left foot. 1-1. Norway’s bench celebrated. The relatively small travelling support went mad.
Morocco pressed for a winner in the closing stages. Amaimouni-Echghouyab — who came on as a substitute — had a powerful left-footed shot from the left side of the box that went narrowly wide in the 89th minute, assisted by Samir El Mourabet’s cross from a corner. Andreas Schjelderup was booked for Norway in the 90th minute as tempers frayed slightly. The fourth official signalled zero minutes of added time and that was it. One-all. Full time.
Norway’s World Cup group: Iraq, Senegal and France. They face Iraq first on June 16. That is a winnable opener. Then Senegal. Then France. The way this squad has been playing — beating Sweden 3-1 in Oslo, drawing with Morocco without Haaland at his best — there is genuine optimism. Ødegaard scoring when it mattered in the 75th minute against one of the continent’s best defences is exactly the sign his manager needed.
Morocco face Brazil on June 13 to open Group C. Carlo Ancelotti has already said he knows his starting XI for that game. Morocco’s preparation has been clean — two wins before this, a 4-0 over Madagascar and a 5-0 over Burundi, and now a draw against a strong European side. Their defence — Hakimi, Mazraoui, Diop, Riad — looks solid. The midfield of El Aynaoui and Bouaddi has been excellent. Brahim Diaz and Saibari up front give them creativity and goals.
Only the second time these two countries have ever played each other as senior internationals. The first ended as a draw too. Morocco go to the World Cup knowing Norway equalised with a quality goal from their best player. Norway go knowing Morocco scored first with a quality goal from their best player. Fair enough on the night.
For live World Cup scores and coverage from day one, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full squads, group tables and tournament fixtures at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Morocco 1-1 Norway FIFA International Friendly | Sunday, 7 June 2026 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey | Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Goals: Brahim Diaz 8′ (Morocco), Martin Ødegaard 75′ (Norway, assist: Oscar Bobb)
Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Mazraoui, Riad, Diop, Hakimi; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Ezzalzouli, Ounahi, Diaz; Saibari Subs used: Rahimi, Amaimouni-Echghouyab, El Mourabet, Saadane
Norway (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Østigård, Ajer, Bjørkan; Berge, Aursnes, Ødegaard; Nusa, Haaland, Sørloth Subs used: Bobb, Schjelderup, Thorsby, others
Stats: Possession MAR 46.4% — NOR 53.6% | Shots on Goal 5-2 | Attempts 13-9 | Corners 3-11 | Yellow Cards 1-1 | Half-time 1-0
