The Dallas Stadium roared for 96 minutes and got a match that will be talked about long after the tournament ends. Norway edged Ivory Coast 2–1 in a pulsating FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 32 clash — Antonio Nusa’s early brilliance, a breathless second half that kept everybody on their toes, and Erling Haaland’s 60th international goal the decisive moment in a game that had everything.
Norway advance to face Brazil in the Round of 16. Ivory Coast go home having shown they belonged.
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First Half: Ivory Coast Dominate the Ball, Norway Take the Lead
Les Éléphants arrived with genuine purpose. The opening 38 minutes belonged to them in large chunks — aggressive pressing, early corners, and Nicolas Pépé pulling strings wide. Ghislain Konan’s 20th-minute effort hit the outside of the netting. Ivory Coast were the better team for stretches and had nothing to show for it.
Norway needed only one moment. In the 39th minute, Martin Ødegaard found Antonio Nusa on the left side of the box. Nusa cut inside his marker, opened his body, and bent a right-footed curler into the far top corner. Yahia Fofana could not get near it. A world-class goal from a 20-year-old in a knockout match.
Norway nearly doubled their lead before the break — Haaland’s shot blocked, Sørloth’s cross-header narrowly missing at the back post. Ivory Coast’s Emmanuel Agbadou then headed a Pépé free-kick just wide. Both sides walked in at 1–0 knowing it was nowhere near over.
Second Half: End-to-End and a Goal Each
The second half was a different match entirely. Ivory Coast came out swinging. Pépé tested Ørjan Nyland with a powerful left-footer in the 55th minute, and within minutes Ødegaard’s corner found Torbjørn Heggem — whose flicked header was spectacularly cleared off the line by substitute Amad Diallo.
Amad then became the hero at the other end. In the 74th minute, he and Pépé worked a perfect one-two on the left channel. Amad took the return pass at full speed, skated past the Norwegian defence, and rolled a left-footed strike into the bottom corner. Ivory Coast had equalised.
Norway had an answer. In the 86th minute, Oscar Bobb drove down the right and cut a square pass to Patrick Berg, who laid it off with one touch into the path of Haaland. He swept it home with his left foot — calm, precise, inevitable. Goal number 60 for Norway’s talisman. 2–1, and Norway were back in front with time running out.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Amad Diallo curled a free-kick towards the top corner. Nyland stretched full length to his right and tipped it over. The save ended the contest. Norway through.
Norway are playing their best football. Today, Ivory Coast looked better for a while in the first half. But Norway defended diligently and eventually gained control of the midfield, creating their chances. Norway have shown that they adapt and match the opponent’s tempo. Their next fixture against Brazil will be tougher. But with the quality the squad has shown today, Norway have a real chance of going even further in the tournament.
Watch Norway vs Ivory Coast Match Highlight Free Only On ZEE5.
Norway face Brazil in the Round of 16 at the New York/New Jersey Stadium — catch it live on ZEE 5 on July 6 at 1:30 AM IST.
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