Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Brazil 2-1 on July 6, 2026, to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in history. This victory marked a significant milestone for Norway, who had not progressed beyond the last 16 since 1998. Haaland's goals came late in the match, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.
Haaland's Impact on Norway's World Cup Journey
Despite having limited touches during the match, Haaland's clinical finishing proved decisive. He broke the deadlock in the 79th minute and sealed the game with another goal just 11 minutes later. Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin praised Haaland's winning goal on BBC Radio 5 Live, stating, "You don’t see any other player doing that. There was not a chance there. There wasn’t a half chance, quarter chance. Nothing."
With this victory, Norway now stands three wins away from claiming the World Cup title. Their next match will be against England, who recently triumphed over Mexico in a thrilling 3-2 encounter. Haaland's performance has instilled a belief in the Norwegian team, as noted by Wayne Rooney on BBC One, who remarked, "He has given the whole country belief that they can go really far in this competition."
Haaland's Scoring Record and Future Prospects
Haaland has now scored a remarkable seven goals in this tournament, placing him level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. His average of a goal every 0.88 games for Norway is indicative of his prowess as a striker. Gary Neville, a former England defender, commented on his performance, stating, "Haaland is a massive character, a personality... that’s now been removed" in reference to previous doubts about his international success.
