Norway advanced to its first World Cup quarterfinal in history after defeating Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16 on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium. Erling Haaland scored both goals for Norway, eliminating the five-time World Cup champions and contradicting his own previous assertions that his country would never win the tournament.
The victory marks a historic milestone for Norwegian soccer, as the team secures its first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. Haaland now shares the tournament lead with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, each having scored seven goals. The result sends Norway to a matchup against England on July 11 in Miami, following England’s victory over co-hosts Mexico.
Following the final whistle, Haaland led the “Viking Row,” a viral fan celebration where supporters simulate rowing motions while chanting “Ro!” (Norwegian for “row”) to the beat of a drum. Captain Martin Odegaard handed the drumsticks to Haaland, who directed the crowd through 16 double-bangs of the drum before celebrating with teammates.
How did Norway eliminate Brazil?
Norway secured the win through a combination of defensive resilience and clinical finishing by Haaland. Brazil had an early opportunity to lead in the 14th minute when Vinícius Júnior handed a penalty attempt to Bruno Guimarães. Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland dove to his left to save the shot, which Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti later stated was based on data indicating Guimarães was the team’s best available shooter. This marked Brazil’s first unsuccessful World Cup penalty shot, excluding shootouts, since 1986.
Norway broke the deadlock in the 79th minute when Haaland scored an explosive header off a cross from midfielder Andreas Schjelderup. After Nyland prevented a potential own-goal in the 85th minute, Haaland scored again shortly after with a diagonal left-footed shot that beat Brazilian goalkeeper Allison.
Brazil managed a late consolation goal in the 100th minute via a penalty scored by Neymar Jr., but the effort came too late to change the outcome. Brazil now exits the World Cup before the quarterfinal stage for the first time since 1900.
Why Erling Haaland is proving himself wrong
The victory represents a sharp reversal of Haaland’s public outlook on Norway’s international prospects. Last summer, Haaland told TIME that “Norway will never win the World Cup,” citing the nation’s uninspiring history in the competition and the difficulty of facing global powerhouses.
In post-match comments, Haaland admitted he had underestimated the possibility of such a run. “I didn’t dream of this ever in my life,” Haaland said. “I dreamed of playing in the World Cup with Norway, and taking them to the World Cup. But I never expected to win against Brazil. Let’s be honest and say that. I thought it was not possible to do some things. But I guess I’m wrong.”
Haaland’s individual performance continues to defy historical norms. He has scored in 14 consecutive competitive games for Norway, totaling 27 goals during that streak. He currently holds 62 goals in 54 appearances for his country, a rate that contrasts sharply with Kylian Mbappé, who has 63 goals for France across 103 games.
What happens next for Norway?
Norway will face England in the quarterfinals on July 11 in Miami. To win the tournament, Norway must secure three more victories. Midfielder Andreas Schjelderup described the team’s current state as being “lost for words” regarding Haaland’s contributions, adding that the squad is “just happy that he’s Norwegian.”
Haaland reflected on the magnitude of the achievement, stating, “Let’s be honest, to score seven goals for Norway in the World Cup is quite special. I need to pinch myself sometimes in the arm, because it’s big.”
The next confirmed checkpoint for the team is the quarterfinal match against England on July 11. We invite readers to share their thoughts on Norway’s historic run in the comments below.