From the Liveblog of
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Israel loses 5-0 to Norway in World Cup soccer qualifier; hostility to Israel inside and outside stadium
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleIsrael loses 5-0 to Norway in tonight’s World Cup qualifying match in Oslo.
Israel was down 3-0 at halftime, with two own goals scored by Anan Khalaili, and Idan Nachmias. Norway’s Erling Haaland scored the third goal.
Haaland added two more goals in the second half.
Haaland also missed a penalty as Norway cruised to victory and edged closer to qualifying for a first World Cup since 1998.
Norway, who have not played at a major tournament since Euro 2000, now lead Group I with nine points more than second-placed Italy, who have two games in hand and play in Estonia later Saturday. Israel is in third place, and plays in Italy on Tuesday, with only faint hopes of reaching the plays offs for next year’s cup.
The Scandinavians will secure a place at next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a win over the Estonians on Tuesday if Italy fail to defeat either Estonia or Israel in their next two matches.
Manchester City striker Haaland is the leading scorer in European qualifying with 12 goals so far.
Ahead of kick-off, hundreds of people attended an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstration, chanting “Free Palestine” to protest against Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegation, and blames Hamas for using Gazans as human shields, and fighting from schools, homes, mosques and hospitals.
Security was tight around the stadium, with police closing several entrances hours before the match started, conducting bag searches, and reducing the number of spectators allowed in.
Inside the stadium, spectators unfurled a large Palestinian flag in the stands, next to a banner reading “Let Children Live,” in protest of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, where a ceasefire came into effect on Friday.
Norway fans spread a huge Palestine ???????? flag ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Israel ???????? #WorldCupQualifiers @BabaGol_ pic.twitter.com/fGRcfnPzSG
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) October 11, 2025
On the other side of the stadium, a small group of fans could be seen waving Israeli flags and sporting other pro-Israel paraphernalia.
There are also supporters for Israel before the crucial match in Oslo.
???? @shaulig pic.twitter.com/JzAemuHrDC— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) October 11, 2025
As the match kicked off with both countries’ national anthems, boos and whistles could be heard in parts of the stadium as Israel’s anthem, “Hatikva,” was played.
The head of the Norwegian football association, Lise Klaveness, recently said she was pushing “for Israel to be sanctioned.”
The Norwegian Football Association said it would donate the proceeds from ticket sales for Saturday’s match to Doctors Without Borders.
The Times of Israel Community.