Erling Haaland Scores Twice as Norway Upsets Brazil 2-1 in World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals

On a humid afternoon in East Rutherford, Norway stunned Brazil with a 2-1 victory, powered by two goals from star striker Erling Haaland. This win marks Norway's first-ever appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Match Overview

Norway started strong, controlling possession during the opening 10 minutes, though without creating clear chances. Brazil nearly took the lead early when Matheus Cunha was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty after a VAR review. Yet, Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland stopped Bruno Guimarães’ attempt, keeping the match scoreless.

Brazil's Vinicius Jr. came close in the 41st minute, stealing the ball inside Norway’s box and shooting toward the near corner, but Nyland made another crucial save. Despite Norway holding more than 65% possession in the first half, Brazil posed more dangerous threats, reflected in expected goals of 1.06 to Norway’s 0.35.

Second Half Drama

Early in the second half, Vinicius Jr. assisted substitute Endrick, who faced Nyland one-on-one but missed due to a poor touch. The breakthrough came in the 79th minute when Haaland scored a header to give Norway a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Haaland struck again, curling a shot from outside the box past the Brazilian goalkeeper for his second goal.

"I dreamt of playing in the World Cup with Norway, but I never expected to win against Brazil," said Haaland after the match. "I thought it was not possible to do some things, but I guess I'm wrong."

Teammate Andreas Schjelderup joked, "We're all just happy that he’s Norwegian and that he's playing for us." Late in the game, Neymar converted a penalty, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. However, Brazil could not find the equalizer before the final whistle.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, Norway advances to face the winner of the Mexico vs. England match on Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m. ET in Miami. The upset adds an unexpected twist to the 2026 World Cup knockout stage.