England defeated Norway 2-1 on July 11, 2026, at Miami Stadium to advance to the FIFA World Cup semifinals, ending the tournament run of striker Erling Haaland. Jude Bellingham scored twice, including the winning goal in the third minute of extra time, to secure England’s place in the final four for the fourth time in its history.
The match marked a stark contrast for Haaland, who entered the quarterfinals as a primary attraction of the tournament in the United States. After scoring seven goals in four World Cup games and leading Norway to a Round of 16 victory over Brazil, the Manchester City star finished the match on the bench, substituted out by head coach Stale Solbakken during the extra time break due to fatigue and injury.
England now moves on to face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday in Atlanta. The other semifinal will feature France and Spain, competing Tuesday in Dallas. For the first time, the top four teams in the FIFA rankings reached the men’s World Cup semifinals.
Bellingham Brace and the Decisive Extra Time Goal
The match remained tied at 1-1 heading into the final stages of play. The deadlock was broken in the third minute of extra time when England’s Morgan Rogers fired a shot that bounced off the chest of Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Jude Bellingham reacted to the rebound, firing the ball into the net for his sixth goal of the World Cup.
Bellingham, who currently plays for Real Madrid and previously played with Haaland at Dortmund, has recorded four goals across his last two matches. Following the victory, England fans in Miami celebrated the midfielder with chants of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.”
Despite the result, England head coach Thomas Tuchel expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s overall quality of play. “We got lucky today,” Tuchel said. “We need to play better.” Bellingham responded to this critique by suggesting Tuchel might not fully grasp the difficulty of playing in the specific match conditions.
Haaland’s Struggle and the Decision to Bench
Erling Haaland’s impact on the game was minimal compared to his previous tournament performances. According to data from StatMuse, Haaland did not record a single dribble, foul, or chance created during the quarterfinal. He struggled significantly in the Miami heat, which felt like 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the pitch.
The striker’s most notable opportunity occurred late in the first half while Norway held a 1-0 lead. Teammate Alexander Sorloth drove toward the goal on a 2-on-1 break with Haaland open on the left; however, Sorloth attempted the play himself, and England defended the attack. This sequence was followed shortly by Bellingham’s equalizing goal.
Norway’s momentum was further hampered in the 55th minute. Torbjorn Heggem appeared to score from a corner kick to put Norway back in the lead, but a video review overturned the goal. Officials determined that Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson, his future teammate with Man City, during the play. Alfie Haaland, Erling’s father and a former soccer player, later posted on X, “Well done Bellingham and referee.”
By the break in extra time, with 15 minutes of play remaining, Solbakken removed Haaland from the game. The coach described the move as a necessity, stating, “It was not a tough decision to take him out. He was finished. Maybe I should have taken him out 10 minutes before… He also got a dead leg in the second half, so that combined with the fatigue.”
Norway’s Tournament Legacy and Next Steps
While the loss ended their pursuit of a title, the 2026 tournament represented a milestone for Norway, marking their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. The team gained significant attention through the “Viking Row” fan support and a victory over Brazil in the Round of 16.
Haaland, who had previously estimated Norway’s chances of winning the tournament at 0.5%, remained positive about the experience despite the exit. “How is it to be Erling Haaland right now after being in the quarterfinals with Norway and going straight to holiday? It’s quite nice,” Haaland said after the match. He added, “I think this changes Norway. I think it changes me. I’ve said it many times, we’re building on something in Norway.”
The focus now shifts to the final four. England is two victories away from ending a 60-year World Cup drought. The team will face Argentina in Atlanta this Wednesday.
World Today Journal will provide updates on the semifinal results and the eventual 2026 World Cup champion. Share your thoughts on England’s performance and Haaland’s tournament run in the comments below.
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