Norway have done the unthinkable. At the New Jersey Stadium, Erling Haaland delivered a late brace to eliminate five-time world champions Brazil from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ — sending the Seleção home in the Round of 16 and writing Norway into the history books.
Final score: Norway 2–1 Brazil.
It is Norway’s first-ever FIFA World Cup quarter-final. And they earned every inch of it.
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First Half: VAR Drama and a Penalty Squandered
Norway came out swinging from the first whistle. In just the 3rd minute, a swift counterattack saw Alexander Sørloth set up Patrick Berg, who smashed the ball past Alisson Becker. The net bulged. The stadium roared. Then VAR intervened — Sørloth had timed his run fractionally too early. Goal ruled out. Norway had to swallow it and start again.
Brazil’s moment arrived in the 13th minute. Kristoffer Ajer tripped Matheus Cunha inside the box. Clear penalty. The ball was placed on the spot — and then Carlo Ancelotti made a decision that will be discussed for years. Bruno Guimarães, a midfielder, took the kick instead of Vinícius Júnior.
Ørjan Nyland read it perfectly. He dived low and pushed the ball away. Brazil’s first missed World Cup penalty in 40 years. Nyland punched the air. Brazil’s dressing room would have gone quiet.
The half continued in a frenzy. Between the 35th and 45th minutes, both keepers produced saves of the highest quality — Nyland keeping out a sharp, low drive from Vinícius, Alisson making a critical stop to deny Martin Ødegaard at close range. Brazil came close but could not convert. This will come to haunt them. The whistle went at 0–0. The match felt like it was waiting.
Second Half: One Teenager’s Miss, One Giant’s Moment
Brazil made a change at the break. Teenage prodigy Endrick came on — and immediately had the chance to be the hero. Vinícius Júnior slid a magnificent outside-of-the-boot pass through to him in the 60th minute, leaving Endrick in a one-on-one with Nyland. He poked it wide. The agony of the young and the impatient.
Norway had waited patiently. In the 79th minute, they pounced.
Substitute winger Andreas Schjelderup floated a precise cross into the box. Erling Haaland, all 194 centimetres of him, leaped just ahead of Gabriel Magalhães and powered a bullet header past Alisson. The New Jersey Stadium held its breath for a moment — then the Norwegian end erupted. 0–1.
Brazil pushed. They had to. And as they pushed, they left space. In the 89th minute, Schjelderup turned provider again — feeding Haaland on the edge of the box. One touch to set. Then a pinpoint low strike, drilled into the bottom corner. Alisson dived but could not reach the ball. The power and the precision — it was astonishing.
0–2. Norway had done it. Almost.
Neymar’s Consolation, but Nothing More
Deep into nine minutes of stoppage time, Brazil won another penalty. Second-half substitute Neymar stepped up. He converted. 1–2. For a moment, the faintest flicker of hope.
Then the final whistle blew.
Brazil, five-time world champions, are out of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in the Round of 16. Ancelotti’s tactical decisions — the penalty call above all — will face brutal scrutiny. Vinícius Júnior, dangerous throughout, never had his moment. Endrick squandered the one chance that came to him.
And Norway? They are through to the quarter-final for the first time in their football history. They will face the winner between England and Mexico. After his two goals, Haaland is now level with Messi and Mbappé at 7— and his best football may still be ahead.
Norway’s historic FIFA World Cup 2026™ quarter-final campaign continues on ZEE 5. Don’t miss a moment — watch every remaining match live in India on ZEE 5.
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