Norway produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by eliminating five-time champions Brazil with a stunning 2-1 victory in the Round of 16, inspired by another clinical performance from Erling Haaland.
The Manchester City striker scored twice at New York New Jersey Stadium to fire Norway into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history, while condemning Brazil to their earliest exit from the tournament since 1990.
Haaland’s sixth and seventh goals of the tournament moved him level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot.
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The Norwegian captain once again delivered when it mattered most, converting two second-half opportunities after goalkeeper Orjan Nyland had kept his side in the contest with a string of outstanding saves.
Brazil had the perfect chance to take an early lead after Kristoffer Ajer was adjudged to have fouled Matheus Cunha inside the penalty area following a VAR review.
However, Bruno Guimaraes failed to capitalise from the spot as Nyland guessed correctly to make an excellent save low to his left.
The experienced Norwegian goalkeeper continued his heroics before halftime, denying Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Junior with two remarkable saves to keep the score level.
Brazil resumed the second half brightly, but substitute Endrick squandered a glorious opportunity less than a minute after entering the match when he failed to control Vinicius Junior’s perfectly weighted through ball.
Nyland remained unbeatable, frustrating Rayan and Bruno Guimaraes before Norway struck decisively.
Substitute Andreas Schjelderup sparked the move with a brilliant run down the left before delivering an inviting cross that Haaland powered into the net with a thunderous header beyond Alisson.
The prolific striker sealed Norway’s famous victory in the closing stages, calmly guiding his effort through Danilo’s legs before beating the Brazilian goalkeeper for his second goal of the afternoon.
Neymar converted a penalty deep into stoppage time to reduce the deficit, but the goal proved only a consolation as Brazil’s World Cup campaign came to a disappointing end.
The victory sends Norway into the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, where Stale Solbakken’s side will face either England or Mexico in Miami on July 11.
For Brazil, the defeat marks one of the nation’s most disappointing World Cup campaigns in decades, ending hopes of adding a sixth world title and extending a long wait for global football’s biggest prize.