Erling Haaland scores twice to lead Norway past Brazil into quarterfinals
Erling Haaland netted two late goals to secure a 2-1 victory for Norway against Brazil at MetLife Stadium, propelling the nation to its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal.
Norway reached the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the nation's history, securing a 2-1 upset victory over five-time champion Brazil on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, concluded with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scoring two late goals, effectively ending Brazil's campaign in the Round of 16.
The Decisive Moments
For much of the encounter, the two sides remained locked in a scoreless stalemate. Brazil’s best opportunity to take an early lead arrived in the 14th minute when Bruno Guimarães was awarded a penalty kick following a challenge on Matheus Cunha. Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland successfully saved the attempt, a stop that proved vital to the match's outcome. Nyland remained active throughout the first half, also denying efforts from Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Junior.
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The deadlock broke in the 79th minute. Substitute Andreas Schjelderup delivered a cross from the left side, which Haaland headed into the net, outjumping defender Gabriel Magalhães. Haaland added his second goal in the 90th minute, firing a low left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area that traveled between the legs of Danilo and into the corner of the net. Brazil’s Neymar converted a penalty kick deep into stoppage time, but the goal served only as a consolation as the final whistle confirmed Norway's advancement.
Historical Significance
The result marks Brazil's earliest exit from the tournament since 1990 and extends the nation's title drought. For Norway, the victory is a milestone, as the team had not qualified for a World Cup for 28 years prior to the 2026 tournament. Haaland’s performance has been central to this progression; he currently has seven goals in the competition, tying him with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.
According to reports, Haaland has now scored as many goals in this tournament as Norway had tallied across all their previous World Cup appearances combined. Additionally, he has extended his scoring streak to 14 consecutive matches for Norway, during which he has recorded 27 goals.
Perspectives
Reflecting on the achievement, Haaland described the emotions of the day as unreal
and noted, I need to pinch myself sometimes in the arm because it’s big, you know?
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken praised the team’s collective effort, stating that the win demonstrated that Norway is actually one of the better teams in Europe and the world.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti addressed the defeat, noting that while his team was disappointed, he viewed the result as part of a transition for the squad. I think this is the start of a new cycle,
Ancelotti said, adding that the team would use the loss as fuel for future competition.
What to Watch Next
Norway moves on to the quarterfinal round, where they are scheduled to face either England or Mexico.
The team’s advancement has been accompanied by the Viking Row
celebration, a ritual involving fans and players that has become a staple of their tournament journey. Following the win over Brazil, Haaland led the crowd in this chant, further cementing his connection with the Norwegian supporters during what has become a landmark summer for the national team.
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 7 |
| Lionel Messi | 7 |
| Kylian Mbappé | 7 |
