Haaland helps Norway start its World Cup qualifying campaign with 5-0 rout

Erling Haaland helped Norway make a positive start to its World Cup qualifying campaign by scoring in a 5-0 rout at Moldova on Saturday.

Norway's third and last World Cup appearance was back in 1998, two years before Haaland was born.

Now, Haaland leads a team featuring Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard that bears high expectations of reaching the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Scandinavian side is favored to win Group I, which also saw Israel beat Estonia 2-1 in the opening round.

Haaland scored Norway’s second goal against the outmatched Moldova. That took his exceptional career haul to 39 goals in 40 appearances for his country since his 2019 debut.

Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson opened the scoring for Norway five minutes after kickoff in Chisinau. Haaland doubled the lead in the 23rd. Thelo Aasgaard, who assisted Ryerson for the opener, made it three before Odegaard set up Alexander Sorloth before halftime. Substitute Aron Donnum got on the scoreboard in the second half.

Haaland already knows what it is to win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester City, but he has yet to take his country to a major tournament. Injury ruled Haaland out of several matches during Norway’s unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup. The talented Norway team likewise failed to qualify for the 2024 European Championship when it disappointed with a third-place group finish behind Spain and Scotland.

Wales beat Kazakhstan 3-1 in Cardiff as the British team seeks a second straight World Cup appearance. Also in Group J, North Macedonia won 3-0 at Liechtenstein.

Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick scored twice in a 2-1 win over Faroe Islands in Group L, where Montenegro fought back for a 3-1 win over Gibraltar.

Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for next year's World Cup in North America.

They will come from the winners of the 12 qualifying groups plus four from a playoff of the group runners-up.

The group stage of European qualifying runs through November.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Norway's Alexander Sorloth celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's Erling Haaland scores his side's second goal during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's Alexander Sorloth, right, scores his side's second goal during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

A Norway fan cheers during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's players celebrate their side's first goal scored by Norway's Julian Ryerson during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's Erling Haaland, left, celebrates with teammates their side's first goal scored by Julian Ryerson during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's players huddle before a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Norway's Erling Haaland follows the ball with Moldova's Vladislav Baboglo during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

SANDNES, Norway (AP) — The father of Norwegian middle-distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen went on trial Monday accused of violently abusing his superstar son.

Jakob, 24, spent the weekend underlining his position as one of the world’s finest athletes by winning gold medals in the 3,000 meters and 1500 meters at the World Indoor Championships in China.

His father Gjert, who used to coach his son, could face up to six years in jail over an alleged 14-year campaign of domestic abuse, which also involved Jakob’s younger sister.

The defense has played the first episode of the TV documentary series Team Ingebrigtsen in court, saying that if there was evidence of abuse the film makers would have uncovered it.

“This claim of domestic abuse is unique because there were productions being made with the family in training camps, during holidays and in everyday life. If there had been systematic abuse it would have been discovered,” Gjert’s defense attorney, Heidi Reisvang, told the Associated Press.

Reisvang added that the court should differentiate between the role of coach and father. “It is clear that someone training to be a world champion has a different upbringing to most people and the rules will be strict when related to eating, sleeping and training,” she said.

Gjert became a prominent media figure in Norway in 2016 following his involvement in the Team Ingebrigtsen series, in which he was seen coaching his three track and field sons, Jakob, Filip and Henrik.

The series ran until 2021. By 2022 the trio had parted ways with their coach-father and the following year co-signed a column in the national newspaper, VG, accusing Gjert of physical violence and intimidation.

The police opened an investigation, with court proceedings eventually brought relating to Gjert’s treatment of Jakob and his younger sister.

On Monday, the prosecution read out the charges, which relate to violation of sections 219 and 282 of the Norwegian Penal Code relating to maltreatment in close relationships.

Asked how he pleaded, Gjert replied “not guilty.”

Gjert continued coaching after the split with his sons and now guides Jakob’s 1500 meters Norwegian rival Narve Gilje Nordas, who will give evidence for the defense in court.

Jakob missed the first day of the trial but is due to give evidence on Tuesday after a 5,000-mile journey from Nanjing in China back to the Soer Rogaland District Court in his home city of Sandnes on the west coast of Norway.

The trial is due to last until May 16.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Silver medalist Neil Gourley, of Great Britain, gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, and bronze medalist Luke Houser, of the United States, pose after the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

FILE - Gjert Ingebrigtsen looks on during an interview with NTB at the Aschehoug premises in central Oslo, Nov. 30, 2021. (Fredrik Hagen/NTB via AP, file)

A courtroom sketch of Gjert Ingebrigtsen, former coach and father of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, during the first day of the criminal case against him in Sor-Rogaland District Court in Sandnes, Norway, Monday, March 24, 2025. (Ane Hem/NTB via AP)

FILE - Gjert Ingebrigtsen during Bislett Night of Highlights at Bislett Stadium in Oslo on Friday, June 4, 2021. (Lise Aserud/NTB via AP, file)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, poses after winning the gold medal in the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, stands on the podium after winning the gold medal in the men's 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Silver medalist Neil Gourley, of Great Britain, gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, and bronze medalist Luke Houser, of the United States, from left, pose on the podium of the men's 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, crosses the finish line to win the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, crosses the finish line to win the men's 1500 meters final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)