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Sprinkler malfunctions at halftime of Iraq-Norway World Cup match at Gillette Stadium
Groundskeepers used buckets and tools to clear the field before the second half, and Norway led Iraq 2-1 at halftime.
- On Tuesday, a sprinkler malfunctioned at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., during the World Cup match between Iraq and Norway, erupting with a large water stream in Iraq's penalty box as players departed for halftime.
- For the tournament, officials converted the stadium's usual turf surface to grass, requiring extra maintenance; groundskeepers typically water the pitch before games and at halftime to improve ball pace.
- Erling Haaland scored twice to give Norway a 2-1 halftime lead as grounds crew members scrambled to disperse the pooled water using buckets and tools during the break.
- Staff turned off all sprinklers throughout the pitch to prevent further damage, and teams returned to the field as scheduled following the 15-minute break.
- With the irrigation system deactivated, conditions remained dry throughout the final 45 minutes of play, with the field appearing back to normal for the second half.
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23 Articles
23 Articles
There is World Cup fever in Norway, and a whopping 1,476,000 viewers watched last night's 4-1 victory over Iraq on TV 2.
·Oslo, Norway
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World Cup 2026: Norway coach expresses frustration with Gillette Stadium grass
FOXBOROUGH — Calling the surface “tinder dry,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said the natural grass, which was installed for the World Cup impacted play in his team’s 4-1 group stage win over Iraq at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday.
·Springfield, United States
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The Genoa central defender took advantage of a corner kick and finished in the six-yard box to make it 3-1 for Norway over Iraq in the first day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a match corresponding to Group I.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left9Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Left
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Left
53% Left
L 53%
C 41%
Factuality
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