Norway stun Brazil (2-1) as a Haaland double dumps the Seleção out at MetLife
Erling Haaland struck twice late on (79', 90') to sink a Brazil side that had spurned a penalty through Bruno Guimarães. Neymar pulled one back from the spot in stoppage time. Norway, led by Ødegaard and Haaland, march into the quarters and knock out Ancelotti's Seleção.
Norway pulled off the biggest shock of the 2026 World Cup so far by knocking Brazil out (2-1) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, an outstanding Erling Haaland scoring twice to sink the five-time champions in the closing stages. Carlo Ancelotti's Seleção bow out in the round of 16 after a night in which they tried everything, wasted too much and paid a heavy price.
Ancelotti went with a 4-4-2 with Alisson in goal, the Matheus Cunha-Vinícius Júnior pairing up front and Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães in midfield. Opposite them, Ståle Solbakken's Norway lined up in a 4-3-3 built around their golden generation: Martin Ødegaard pulling the strings, Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sørloth out wide and Haaland leading the line. Brazil started fast and had the chance to lead on 14 minutes, but Bruno Guimarães smashed a penalty off target and kept alive a side that would not be so wasteful.
The game followed a cruel script for Brazil: they created and created —finishing with fourteen attempts and an xG of 1.93— but kept running into their own poor finishing and a solid Ørjan Nyland in goal. Norway, well-drilled and lethal on the break, bided their time. And their moment had a name: on 79 minutes, Haaland turned home an Andreas Schjelderup pass for a 0-1 that turned the stadium upside down.
The game was settled on 90: again set up by Schjelderup, Haaland completed his double for 0-2 and sparked the Norwegian party. Neymar, who had come off the bench, pulled one back with a penalty in the 90th minute —and was booked in the move— but the 1-2 came far too late. Brazil threw everything at a final assault without reward.
Haaland, named man of the match with a 9 rating, won his personal duel with Vinícius and, with his brace, surges to seven goals to draw level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé at the top of the scoring chart. Norway, who had made half of Europe dream with their new crop, return to the big stage in style and reach the quarter-finals, where they will await the winner of tonight's Mexico-England tie. For Brazil, on the other hand, it is a huge blow: Ancelotti's Seleção fall in the last 16 and record one of their biggest World Cup disappointments in recent memory.