EAST RUTHERFORD, United States — Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes to send Norway into their first-ever World Cup quarter-final with a stunning 2-1 victory over five-time champions Brazil at MetLife Stadium, ending the Selecao’s streak of eight consecutive quarter-final appearances.
The Norwegian national team, led by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, faced the Brazilian national team, coached by Carlo Ancelotti and captained by Vinícius Júnior. Haaland has now scored 62 goals in 54 appearances for Norway and has found the net in 14 consecutive competitive international matches.
Haaland, who had been quiet for much of the match, broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with a powerful header from Andreas Schjelderup’s cross, rising above Gabriel Magalhães to score. He doubled the lead in the 90th minute, crashing in a left-footed strike from the edge of the box. Neymar converted a stoppage-time penalty for Brazil, but it was too late to change the outcome.
The match took place on Sunday, July 4, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a neutral venue that hosted this World Cup Round of 16 knockout match.
This is Norway’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup quarter-final on the men’s side. The victory extends Norway’s remarkable unbeaten record against Brazil to five matches. For Brazil, it is their earliest exit since 1990 and their seventh consecutive World Cup loss to European opposition. Brazil’s streak of quarter-final appearances, which dated back to 1994, ended at eight.
Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland was exceptional, saving a 14th-minute penalty from Bruno Guimarães and making several other crucial stops. Haaland’s brace moved him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé atop the Golden Boot race with seven goals. Norway’s coach Ståle Solbakken’s decision to introduce Schjelderup at half-time proved decisive, as the substitute provided assists for both goals.
Norway now advances to face the winner of the Mexico-England round-of-16 match on Saturday in Miami. Brazil, who had hired Ancelotti to end a 24-year World Cup drought, exit in the Round of 16. The defeat is particularly painful for veteran Neymar, who scored a late consolation in what is likely his final World Cup appearance.
Despite having only 35.7 percent possession and being outshot 14-9, Norway defended resolutely and capitalised on their limited chances. Nyland’s penalty save provided the platform, and Haaland’s clinical finishing in the closing stages punished Brazil’s inability to convert their dominance into goals.
