Tuesday Jul 07, 2026
Tuesday Jul 07, 2026
Tuesday, 7 July 2026 03:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
New York New Jersey was hosting its penultimate match of the tournament, with the next fixture being the 19 July final. Norway stand now just two matches from reaching that decider, having downed Brazil in the Round of 16, on the back of Erling Haaland’s sixth and seventh tournament goals. Those goals move him level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi as the race for the adidas Golden Boot heats up.
In mid-afternoon sunshine, the Seleção survived an early Patrick Berg chance before they had a golden opportunity to go ahead just shy of the quarter hour. Kristoffer Ajer mistimed a challenge on Matheus Cunha and after a VAR review, Brazil were awarded a penalty. Initially, Vinicius Junior had possession of the adidas TRIONDA before passing it to Bruno Guimaraes, who saw his shot saved down low to his left by the firm hands of Orjan Nyland.
The 35-year-old Norwegian keeper was a keen handball player in his youth, but it was his legs that denied firstly Gabriel Martinelli and then Vinicius Junior to send the teams to the break with the score unbroken.
One of Norway’s chief creative threats, Antonio Nusa, was withdrawn at the interval but it was a Brazilian substitute, Endrick, that spurned a huge chance to break the deadlock. Fifty-two seconds after his arrival, the teenage forward was sent through on goal by a surgical Vinicius Junior pass, only for a heavy first touch to lead to a mis-placed shot.
The Volda Viking then produced another pair of fine saves to thwart firstly Rayan and then Bruno Guimaraes before Norway struck.
Andreas Schjelderup, the man who came on for Nusa, broke free down the left after a slick seven-pass sequence and stood up the perfect cross for Haaland to smash a downward header past Alisson.
Haaland then grabbed a second right at the end of regulation time as he steered a shot through the legs of Danilo and past a diving Alisson to spark jubilant scenes among the throng of Norway supporters.
A late Neymar penalty, coming in the tenth minute of stoppage time, was nothing more than a consolation as Brazil made their earliest World Cup exit since 1990, while Norway reach the last eight for the first time.
A quarter-final date with England, in Miami on 11 July, now awaits Stale Solbakken’s side.
England overcame co-hosts Mexico in a thrilling, incident-packed last-16 tie to set up a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final showdown with Norway.
The Three Lions prevailed despite playing for most of the second half with ten men following Jarell Quansah’s 54th-minute red card. Backed by a feverish home crowd, co-hosts Mexico fought tirelessly in their bid to reach first quarter-final in 40 years, but England held on to keep their title dreams alive.
Mexico dominated possession in the game’s opening stages, but a quick-fire Bellingham double swung the game in England’s favour.
First, he headed in from Bukayo Saka’s inviting cross to open the scoring. Almost straight from kick-off, Bellingham made it 2-0. Mexico turned over possession and Harry Kane set up the Real Madrid superstar to slot home.
Mexico City Stadium was shellshocked, but El Tri quickly responded, with Julian Quinones crashing an unstoppable shot past Jordan Pickford from close range. The co-hosts’ tails were up and only a spectacular Pickford save prevented Raul Jimenez from levelling before half-time.
The action was unrelenting, and it continued after the interval. Nico O’Reilly struck the post with a low drive, before Quansah was sent off for a challenge on Jesus Gallardo.
Moments after England were reduced to ten men, Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel brought down Anthony Gordon in the penalty box. The spot-kick was awarded and Kane stepped up to rifle in his sixth goal of the tournament.
Kane would soon be involved in more penalty drama at the other end of the pitch. A foul by the England skipper on Brian Gutierrez resulted in a penalty been awarded to Mexico following a VAR review. Jimenez made no mistake from 12 yards and the co-hosts were back within striking distance at 3-2.
El Tri piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser which would have taken the game to extra-time. England held firm, though, and can look forward a last-eight clash with Norway in Miami on Saturday, 11 July.
