Haaland double sends Norway past Brazil into World Cup last eight

Erling Haaland scored twice in the closing 11 minutes to knock Brazil out of the World Cup and carry Norway into a first ever quarter-final.

Haaland strikes twice to break Brazil

Norway beat Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 on 5 July, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals inside the final 11 minutes.verifiedVerified Sourced from Brazil 1-2 Norway | Match report & highlights | FIFA World Cup. The Manchester City forward headed Norway in front in the 79th minute, then struck again on 90 minutes to settle a tie that Brazil had controlled for long stretches.verifiedVerified Sourced from Brazil 1-2 Norway (Jul 5, 2026) Game Analysis - ESPN.

Brazil had dominated possession and territory before the two goals arrived.verifiedVerified Sourced from Haaland scores twice as Norway stun Brazil 2-1 in World Cup 2026 last 16 - Al Jazeera. Norway rode their luck for an hour, then found the ruthlessness of the world's most expensive striker at the moment the tie turned.

The match was played at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in front of 80,663 spectators. Neymar converted a penalty in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time to give the scoreline a late flourish, but Brazil were already beaten.

A first-half penalty Brazil could not take

Referee Ismail Elfath waved play on when Kristoffer Ajer challenged Matheus Cunha in the 14th minute, then reversed the call at the pitch-side monitor and pointed to the spot. Bruno Guimaraes stepped up and saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

That save loomed over the rest of the night. Brazil went to the interval level and never regained the initiative once Haaland found his range.

Vinicius Junior twice threatened for Brazil, with a low shot kept out by Nyland and a superb through-ball wasted by Endrick in a one-on-one chance. Brazil created the better openings without turning them into goals.

Haaland calls it Norway's greatest day

Haaland said the win ranked as the biggest in his country's football history. "In Norway's history, this is the greatest game," Haaland said after full time. "Maybe this will write history in Norway. Everyone just need to enjoy themselves. This is just an insane day," he said.

Haaland framed the night as one for the whole country to savour. "This is Norway's biggest victory in soccer. This is crazy. It's all just wonderful," he said.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken said the result would live long in the memory. "This is the greatest night in Norwegian football history," Solbakken said. "It is great that this has become one of the images of the World Cup," he said.

Ancelotti accepts an early exit

The loss sent Brazil out at the last-16 stage, their earliest World Cup exit since 1990. Carlo Ancelotti said his players did not merit the defeat but that he would move on.

"I don't think we deserved to lose, but we have to accept it," Ancelotti said. "That is football for you, that is sports," he said. "We are going to take this defeat and use it as fuel for the new cycle," he told reporters after the match.

Ancelotti said the mood in the camp was flat and pointed to work still to do in his squad. "Everyone is profoundly sad, as the fans are," he said. "It is very evident that in the midfield, I think that we have to move some players," he said.

Haaland delivers on the biggest stage

Haaland had carried Norway through qualifying and a group stage, and he answered the game's defining moment against five-time champions Brazil. His header and his 90th-minute finish gave Norway a win few outside the squad expected.

Haaland let the scale of the night sink in as he spoke. "This is Norway's biggest victory in soccer. This is crazy. It's all just wonderful," he said.

Solbakken said the run had captured the country. "I think all of Norway is now rowing. It is great that this has become one of the images of the World Cup," Solbakken said.

Norway face England next

Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time and now play England in Miami on 11 July. England reached the last eight by beating Mexico 3-2, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice and Harry Kane adding a penalty despite a red card for Jarell Quansah.

Solbakken said the country was carried by the run. "I think all of Norway is now rowing," Solbakken said. Haaland's brace put Norway two wins from a World Cup final in a tournament played across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Norway play England in the quarter-final in Miami on 11 July. Follow every fixture, result and the knockout bracket on our World Cup 2026 hub.