Erling Haaland scores twice to beat
Brazil, send Norway into World Cup quarterfinals for 1st time
[July 06, 2026]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Erling Haaland scored, and Andreas
Schjelderup jumped on his teammate's back. Haaland scored again, and
Schjelderup leapt up again.
Heading in the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute and scoring again
before the end of regulation time, Haaland put Norway on his back
and carried it into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time
with a 2-1 defeat of Brazil on Sunday that showcased the towering
striker on soccer’s biggest stage.
“Maybe this will write history in Norway,” Haaland said. “Everyone
just need to enjoy themselves. This is just an insane day. It’s one
of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it, embrace
it and enjoy the moment.”
After being a nonfactor for much of the afternoon and having limited
touches, Haaland spoke at the second-half hydration break with coach
Ståle Solbakken, who told him to drain his energy and go for it.
Haaland turned it on when it mattered most, getting the right side
of his head on the ball after a perfect setup by Andreas Schjelderup,
who entered at halftime. Haaland scored a little over minutes later
for his seventh of the tournament, through Danilo's legs to tie
Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé of France in the race for
the Golden Boot.
“It felt it was a gift from God that it actually went into the net,”
Haaland said after scoring in a 14th consecutive competitive match
internationally. He has 27 in that stretch and 62 in 54 with Norway.
At the other end, goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland was stellar. He made a
crucial stop early, diving to his left to deny Bruno Guimarães’
penalty kick in the 14th minute, then got his left hand on a shot by
Endrick late when Norway was hanging on to a one-goal lead.
The only goal Nyland allowed was to Neymar on a penalty kick late in
stoppage time, which changed just the final score. Neymar, who is
34, said this was his final game playing for Brazil's national team.
Nyland, who at 35 is his team’s oldest player, was a huge factor in
a historic victory that ranks among the most significant in the
country’s history — at least on the men’s side. Norway’s women’s
team won the World Cup in 1995, but the men have only qualified four
times and not since 1998. They had not gone further than the round
of 16.
“I think that all Norwegian citizens are experiencing the night of a
lifetime,” Solbakken said. “Some people say that we have changed
Norway forever. Probably, they will party for a week or so.”
Norway next faces England on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Solbakken said he had more than a dozen friends already book travel
to South Florida.
Guimarães became the first Brazil player not to score on a World Cup
penalty kick since Zico in 1986. The decision to have him take it
instead of star Vinícius Júnior brought immediate second-guessing
and may be questioned and criticized for quite some time.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said he and his staff did a yearlong
statistical study that determined, with Neymar not on the field and
Raphinha injured, Guimarães was the right choice.
[to top of second column] |
Norway players, from left, Patrick Berg, Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb,
Kristian Thorstvedt, and Julian Ryerson celebrates after the World
Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East
Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP
Photo/Matt Slocum)
There were plenty of other missed opportunities,
including Casemiro missing Neymar on a crossing attempt on what
could have been the tying goal.
“We really fell short in the opportunities that we
did create,” captain Marquinhos said. “We had a penalty kick, we had
some other chances as well, but here’s the World Cup for you. Those
that make the least mistakes are able to move forward to the next
round, and to be victorious.”
Brazil goes home having massively underachieved expectations set
pretty much at win or bust for the five-time World Cup champions.
The global powerhouse had its streak of quarterfinal appearances at
the tournament end at eight, losing before that stage for the first
time since 1990.
It was Brazil’s seventh consecutive loss to European opponents in
the knockout round at the World Cup, dating to beating Germany in
the 2002 final. The absence of injured midfielder Lucas Paquetá did
not help.
Norway got defender Julian Ryerson back from his injury that
sidelined him the past two games, and Solbakken was rewarded for
making changes at halftime by Schjelderup setting up each of
Haaland’s goals.
“During the game, you have to take the calls decisions that you feel
are appropriate,” Solbakken said. “It’s a gut feeling that Oscar (Bobb)
and Andreas might make a difference, and I felt more secure with
them on the pitch the way I wanted us to play the second half, and
then you saw what happened.”
Those moves played a role in the upset, though this one was not
nearly as massive as the group stage in 1998. Norway showed how much
it had evolved as a soccer nation since then, with knocking off
Brazil the latest step in that process.
Yellow-clad Seleção fans outnumbered those in Norway red, many of
whom did the now-famous Viking Row in the stands — with Brazil
supporters even cheering it before kickoff. Brazil's fans were
stunned silent when it returned after the game, with Haaland banging
the drum and leading the celebration.
“I’ve peaked a couple of times during this tournament, but this was
a new peak,” Haaland said.
Also in the sellout crowd of 80,663 were rapper Jay-Z, comedian
Chris Rock, actor Woody Harrelson, actress Sofía Vergara and
basketball player Jalen Brunson of the NBA champion New York Knicks,
who elicited a healthy roar when he was shown on video screens.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
