Norway produced one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 World Cup as Erling Haaland’s late brace secured a 2-1 win over Brazil and booked a place in the quarter-finals.
The Scandinavians frustrated the five-time world champions throughout a tense last-16 contest in New Jersey before Haaland struck twice in the closing stages.
Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty gave Brazil a glimmer of hope, but it arrived too late to prevent a stunning elimination.
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Nyland denies Brazil after early penalty drama
Norway made the brighter start and thought they had taken the lead inside three minutes when Patrick Berg fired into the top corner, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Brazil were then handed a golden opportunity to go ahead when VAR intervened after Kristoffer Ajer brought down Matheus Cunha in the penalty area. Referee Alejandro Hernandez initially waved play on before overturning his decision following a review.
Bruno Guimaraes stepped up, but his tame penalty was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, who guessed correctly and pushed the effort away to preserve parity.
Despite Norway controlling much of the ball, clear-cut opportunities remained limited before the interval.
Martinelli and Vinicius both tested Nyland, who continued to impress between the posts, while Martin Odegaard forced Alisson into a smart save at the other end after being picked out by Haaland.
Haaland delivers when it matters most
The second half followed a similar pattern, with neither side able to establish much control.
Brazil came closest to breaking the deadlock when Vinicius released substitute Endrick through on goal just before the hour mark. However, the teenager took a heavy touch and dragged his finish wide with only Nyland to beat.
Carlo Ancelotti introduced Neymar with just over 20 minutes remaining, hoping the veteran forward could provide the spark Brazil desperately needed.
Instead, it was Norway who found the breakthrough.
With 11 minutes remaining, Andreas Schjelderup whipped in an inviting cross from the left and Haaland rose above Gabriel to power a header beyond Alisson for his sixth goal of the tournament.
Brazil pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Norway struck again in stoppage time. Schjelderup was involved once more, finding Haaland on the edge of the area, and the Manchester City striker took a touch before drilling a low finish into the bottom corner to seemingly seal the result.
Neymar strikes too late
There was one final twist when Leo Ostigard was penalised for catching Casemiro with an elbow inside the area.
Neymar converted the resulting penalty in the 100th minute, but there was no time left for a comeback as Norway held on to complete a famous victory.
The result sends Norway into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, while Brazil’s campaign ends in disappointment despite arriving in the United States among the favourites to lift the trophy.
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