In a stunning twist at the 2026 World Cup, Erling Haaland scored twice in the 79th and 90th minutes, securing Norway's 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16. The match took place this Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, delivering one of the tournament's most unexpected outcomes.
The game began with a golden opportunity for the Brazilian team. In the 14th minute, Bruno Guimarães missed a penalty as Norwegian goalkeeper Nyland correctly guessed the direction of the shot. Yet, Guimarães redeemed himself by scoring the opening goal for Brazil later in the same half, giving the South Americans a halftime lead.
Norway controlled the game with 67% possession compared to Brazil's 33%, despite the Brazilians taking more shots overall, 11 to Norway's nine. The key difference was in accuracy: the Norwegians managed to fire five shots on target, while Brazil only had three.
In the second half, both coaches made strategic substitutions. Carlo Ancelotti brought on Endrick in the 58th minute and Neymar in the 67th, whereas Stale Solbakken introduced Oscar Bobb and Schjelderup at the start of the half. These changes had little impact until Haaland took charge.
The Manchester City striker leveled the score in the 79th minute, coinciding with Brazil's decision to substitute Guimarães, and clinched the win in the 90th minute with his second goal, leaving Brazil's defense without an answer. Neymar, who was brought on to alter the game's course, ended up with a yellow card in the closing moments.
With his latest performance, Haaland now boasts seven goals in the 2026 World Cup, further establishing himself as a leading scorer in the tournament. He had previously secured a crucial goal against Ivory Coast in the round of 32 on June 30 in Dallas.
Brazil, a strong contender for the title after topping Group C with seven points and overcoming Japan in the prior round, is now out of the competition. The Brazilian team had advanced to the round of 16 with goals from Casemiro and Martinelli against Japan on June 29.
Meanwhile, Norway celebrates a historic achievement in Scandinavian soccer by reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1998, marking a significant milestone after 28 years.
Key Insights on Norway's Victory Over Brazil
How did Erling Haaland impact the match against Brazil?
Erling Haaland scored two decisive goals in the 79th and 90th minutes, leading Norway to a 2-1 victory over Brazil, thereby securing their place in the World Cup quarterfinals.
What was the possession percentage for Norway and Brazil during the match?
Norway dominated the possession with 67% compared to Brazil's 33%, despite Brazil having more total shots.
What was the outcome of Brazil's penalty attempt in the match?
Brazil's Bruno Guimarães missed a penalty in the 14th minute as Norwegian goalkeeper Nyland successfully anticipated the shot's direction.