Erling Haaland scores twice as Norway upsets Brazil to reach quarterfinals

Norway secured a historic place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, July 5, 2026, delivering a 2-1 upset over five-time champions Brazil at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The victory, fueled by a late-game surge from Erling Haaland, marks the first time in history that Norway has reached the final eight of the tournament.

The match began with early tension as Norway saw an apparent goal by Peter Berg in the third minute nullified due to an offside call. Brazil soon found their own opportunity to strike when Matheus Cunha was brought down in the penalty area by Kristoffer Ajer in the 12th minute. Bruno Guimarães stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland thwarted the attempt with a diving save, keeping the match scoreless.

Throughout the first half, Brazil generated the more dangerous scoring opportunities. Vinicius Jr. Threatened the Norwegian defense repeatedly, including a 41st-minute effort that Nyland successfully denied. Despite holding over 65% of the possession, Norway struggled to convert their control into meaningful chances, while Brazil’s counter-attacking strategy created consistent pressure. Following the halftime break, substitute forward Endrick, who replaced Cunha, found himself one-on-one with Nyland in the 59th minute but missed the goal wide after a heavy touch.

The deadlock remained until the 79th minute, when Haaland, who had recorded minimal touches throughout the match, connected with a cross from Andreas Schjelderup to head the ball past Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. Shortly after, Haaland secured his brace by drilling a low shot from outside the box into the far corner of the net. The second goal prompted many fans in the yellow-clad Brazilian crowd to exit the stadium early.

Neymar, who entered as a substitute, added a consolation goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time, but the match concluded before Brazil could find an equalizer. The loss represents Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990. Following the final whistle, the Norwegian squad celebrated by performing their signature "Viking Row" celebration in front of their supporters.

Haaland’s performance brings his total to seven goals in four matches, pulling him even with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot. The victory serves as a definitive moment for Ståle Solbakken’s team, which had failed to qualify for the previous six World Cup tournaments.

The atmosphere at MetLife Stadium featured a notable gathering of spectators, including Jalen Brunson, Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Breanna Stewart. While the Brazilian side departs the tournament, Norway will now prepare for their quarterfinal match against the winner of the contest between Mexico and England. That game is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET in Miami.