Haaland double as Norway stun Brazil to reach World Cup quarter-finals
Erling Haaland's two late goals propelled Norway into their first-ever World Cup quarter-final after a 2-1 victory over five-time champions Brazil.
Norway secured a historic place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, 5 July 2026, after a stunning 2-1 victory over five-time champions Brazil at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Erling Haaland provided the decisive margin with two late goals, marking the first time in history that Norway has reached the final eight of the tournament.
The result sends Norway to a quarter-final showdown against either co-hosts Mexico or England. The match is scheduled for 11 July 2026 in Miami. For Brazil, the loss represents their earliest World Cup exit since 1990 and concludes a campaign under manager Carlo Ancelotti that failed to meet expectations.
Media additions
The game remained scoreless until the final quarter, though the match saw significant shifts in momentum. Brazil received an early opportunity to lead in the 13th minute after Kristoffer Ajer fouled Matheus Cunha. Bruno Guimaraes took the resulting penalty, but Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland dived to his left to make the save. Nyland proved central to the result, producing multiple stops to frustrate the Brazilian attack throughout the evening.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken credited a halftime tactical shift for the win, replacing both wingers with Andreas Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb. The adjustment allowed Norway to control the sides of the pitch, and the decision paid dividends in the 79th minute. Schjelderup delivered a cross that Haaland headed past Alisson to break the deadlock. Haaland extended the lead in the 90th minute, firing a low strike from outside the box.
"I said to the boys today that I don’t think it’s 50-50, but we have a fair chance if we play at our best and have match winners, and we had that."
Stale Solbakken, Norway head coach, via Whtc
While Brazil secured a penalty in stoppage time following a foul by Leo Ostigard on Casemiro—converted by Neymar—it served only as a consolation. Brazil’s defensive performance was scrutinized by Tostao, a former World Cup winner, who described the team as passive
and noted that they appeared to watch Norway play rather than applying pressure.
Haaland’s brace moved him to seven goals for the tournament, placing him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. Following the match, the striker led the Norwegian supporters in their signature Viking row
celebration, banging a drum in front of the traveling fans. He later described the victory as surrealistic
and suggested the win was one of the most significant days in his nation's football history.
Tournament Context
- Earliest Exit: Brazil has not been knocked out before the quarter-finals since 1990.
- Goalscoring Race: Erling Haaland (Norway), Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Kylian Mbappe (France) are tied at seven goals each.
- Historical Record: This match marked the fifth meeting between the two nations, with Norway maintaining an unbeaten record of three wins and two draws against Brazil.
The match also occurred amid broader tournament controversies. Solbakken expressed criticism regarding FIFA's decision to suspend the red-card ban for USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, labeling it a big mistake
that carries negative consequences for the integrity of the sport.
According to Ancelotti, the decision to have Guimaraes take the first-half penalty was based on internal statistical analysis, which ranked him as the third-best option on the field behind Raphinha and Neymar, and ahead of Gabriel Martinelli.
The defeat has prompted speculation regarding the future of the Brazilian coaching staff. Despite a contract running until 2030, the nature of the exit from the 2026 World Cup has triggered immediate questions regarding whether the manager will remain in his role.
