Haaland Double Sends Norway Into Historic World Cup Quarter-Final
Erling Haaland scored twice in the second half as Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16, securing their first-ever quarter-final berth.
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Erling Haaland scored a second-half brace to fire Norway to a historic 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sending the Scandinavians into the quarter-finals for the first time.
Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, heading in a cross from Andreas Schjelderup at MetLife Stadium, according to SABC News. He sealed the win in the 90th minute with a powerful strike, capitalizing on Brazil’s failure to clear their lines.
Brazil had missed a key chance earlier, when Bruno Guimaraes’ 14th-minute penalty was saved by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, as reported by BBC Sport. The miss proved costly as Brazil failed to score despite sustained pressure.
The result marks Norway’s first victory over Brazil in World Cup history and continues their unbeaten record against the South Americans, according to Daily Trust. Norway had never previously advanced beyond the group stage at a World Cup.
Haaland’s goals took his tournament tally to seven, making him the current top scorer, Al Jazeera reported. Norway will face the winner of the England vs. Mexico Round of 16 match in the quarter-finals, Premium Times confirmed.
Brazil’s exit at the last-16 stage ends their campaign earlier than expected, despite being five-time champions. Questions have already emerged over team selections, including why Vinicius Junior did not take the penalty, as discussed in Legit.ng.