Kha Y Tran Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway shocked Brazil 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. The Manchester City striker led his team to a famous victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Brazil fought back late through Neymar’s penalty. However, it was not enough. Norway held on to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Haaland moved closer to Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. At the same time, Brazil suffered another painful World Cup exit.
Watch the match highlights at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42ovN5rW79U
Norway Start with Confidence
Brazil entered the match as the favorite. The South American giants had stars like Neymar, Vinicius Junior, and Bruno Guimarães.
However, Norway showed no fear. They pressed high from the opening whistle. They also kept the ball well and stayed organized.
Martin Odegaard controlled the midfield. Meanwhile, Haaland stayed ready to attack whenever space appeared.
Norway finished the first half with about 65% possession. They also completed more than 90% of their passes. Even so, they could not find a breakthrough.
Photo: Reuters.
Brazil Waste a Huge Chance
Brazil created the better chances before halftime. In the 13th minute, the referee awarded a penalty after checking VAR. Matheus Cunha had been fouled inside the box.
Bruno Guimarães stepped up to take the kick. However, goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made an excellent save. That miss changed the game.
Later, Vinicius Junior came close with a dangerous attack. On the other end, Odegaard also tested Brazil’s defense.
Still, neither team managed to score before the break.
The moment Guimaraes missed the penalty. (Photo: Reuters).
Norway Change Their Approach
The second half began at a steady pace. Norway continued to enjoy most of the possession. However, they needed more attacking power.
Therefore, Andreas Schjelderup came off the bench. His pace and direct runs immediately caused problems.
Instead of slowing the game down, Norway attacked faster. They looked for Haaland with early crosses and quick passes. The change worked perfectly.
At the same time, Norway stayed solid in defense. Nyland remained calm whenever Brazil attacked.
Photo: Reuters.
Haaland Scores Twice
The game changed in the final 20 minutes. First, Schjelderup sent in a perfect cross from the left. Haaland beat Gabriel Magalhães in the air and headed the ball into the net. Suddenly, Brazil had to chase the game. As a result, they left more space at the back.
Photo: Reuters.
Norway punished them again. Once more, Schjelderup found Haaland. This time, the striker fired a powerful shot from outside the box. The Brazilian goalkeeper had no chance.
The goal gave Norway a 2-0 lead. It also showed why Haaland is one of the world’s best finishers.
Photo: Reuters.
Neymar Gives Brazil Hope
Brazil refused to give up. They pushed more players forward during the closing minutes. Eventually, they won another penalty. Neymar calmly scored from the spot. The goal made the final minutes tense.
However, Norway defended well. Every player worked hard behind the ball. In addition, Nyland dealt confidently with every cross.
Finally, the referee blew the final whistle.
Norway celebrated one of the biggest wins in the nation’s football history.
Norway’s Heroes
Haaland deserved the headlines after scoring twice. However, he was not the only hero.
Odegaard controlled the tempo throughout the match. He kept Norway calm under pressure and distributed the ball well.
Schjelderup also made a huge impact. He came off the bench and provided both assists.
Meanwhile, Nyland produced several key saves. Most importantly, he stopped Brazil’s first-half penalty.
Together, the trio inspired Norway to a famous victory.
Haaland scored two goals to help Norway beat Brazil 2-1. (Photo: Reuters)
Brazil Left Disappointed
Brazil will regret several missed chances. The missed penalty proved costly. A goal there could have changed the match.
Although Brazil had talented attackers, they struggled to create clear chances. Norway defended with discipline and limited the space.
Furthermore, Haaland caused constant problems whenever Norway attacked. In the end, Brazil paid the price for their missed opportunities.
Norway March Into the Quarterfinals
Norway now advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals. Their next opponent will be England or Mexico. The team has grown stronger with every match. Confidence is also rising after eliminating one of football’s biggest nations.
Meanwhile, Haaland continues his outstanding tournament. His two goals strengthen his Golden Boot challenge.
If Norway keep playing like this, they could become one of the biggest stories of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Their victory over Brazil proved they have the quality, belief, and teamwork to compete with anyone.
Read more:
World Cup: Brazil Complete Come Back Against Japan
World Cup 2026: Norway Escape With Thrilling Win
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