Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Norway recorded perhaps the greatest result in their football history when they defeated Brazil 2-1 in a 2026 World Cup Round of 16 clash at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
Erling Haaland scored a brace of goals as the Vikings, playing at the global tournament for the first time in 28 years, defeated the five-time champions and progressed into the final eight for the first time ever.
Following a rapid start to proceedings, Norway were denied an early lead in the second minute through Patrik Berg, who capped off a rapid attacking move toward the Brazil box. However, the goal was cancelled after VAR spotted an offside infringement in the final third.
Brazil were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute after Cunha was impeded by Kristoffer Ajer inside the box, while the challenge required a second look by the referee at the pitch side monitor. Following a brief check, the referee confirmed the penalty which was subsequently saved by Orjan Nyland after Bruno Guimaraes stepped up to the spot.
Norway controlled the game with fluid possession and ball rotation leading up the hydration break, as Brazil looked for the opportune time to play on the counter. The game opened up dramatically after the drinks break with both sides enjoying a number of notable scoring chances through players such as Rayan and Martin Odegaard leading up to the interval.
It was all Norway during the first 10 minutes of the second-half and they dominated on the ball as Brazil sat back in soaking up the pressure. Despite their superiority in possession, Norway battled to create clear-cut scoring chances.
Second-half substitute Endrick came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock moments before the hour-mark after he latched onto a well-weighted through ball by Vincius before toe poking the ball beyond the goalkeeper’s right.
The Samba Boys found themselves in an inviting position soon after Endrick’s miss, this time with Bruno Guimaraes who forced a point-blank save out of Nyland once more.
At the other end of the pitch, Erling Haaland came close to giving his nation the lead in the 69th minute as he attempted to get on the end of a low cross into the box with a sliding effort that went narrowly wide.
Norway’s pressure paid off in the 80th minute and they grabbed the lead through Haaland, who had a quiet match overall. Assisted by Andreas Schjelderup, who did well to evade his opposite number on the left flank, Haaland completed the cross with a powerful header to beat Allison in goal.
Haaland doubled his tally a minute before the 90th minute mark in emphatic fashion after the Brazilian backline switched off momentarily. With Schjelderup recording another assist, the Norway attacker picked out Haaland on the edge of the area before the Manchester City striker buried the ball into the back of the net through a venomous left-footed shot.
The Samba Boys were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time after Casemiro was elbowed in the face inside the box. While Bruno Guimaraes missed his penalty attempt in the first-half, second-half substitute Neymar did one better by converting the spot kick.
Nonetheless, Neymar’s goal proved only to be a consolation effort for Brazil as Norway progressed to the next phase of the showpiece.
Brazil: (0) 1 (Neymar 90+10’ pen)
Norway: (0) 2 (Haaland 80’, 89’)
Brazil: Becker, Danilo, Marquinhos, Magalhaes, Santos, Guimaraes (Ederson 79’), Casemiro, Rayan (Santos 68’), Martinelli (Neymar 68’), Vinicius, Cunha (Cunha 58’)
Norway: Nyaland, Moller Wolfe (Ostigard 95’), Heggem, Ajer, Ryerson (Aursnes 63’), Berge, Berg, Odegaard, Nusa (Schjelderup 46’), Sorloth (Bobb 46’), Haaland
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