Norway, the surprise package that knocked out Brazil on the way to the quarters
Absent from the big tournaments for almost three decades, Norway produced one of the most surprising runs of the 2026 World Cup: they knocked out Brazil in the last 16 (2-1) and reached the quarter-finals behind an unstoppable Erling Haaland, who scored seven goals.
Norway had spent generations waiting for a World Cup worthy of their talent, and in 2026 they finally got one. The Nordic side did not just return to the big stage after decades away: they reached the world's last eight with a run that thrilled an entire country.
The great moment came in the last 16, against Brazil. Norway did not shrink against the five-time champions and knocked them out 2-1, with Erling Haaland leading the way. The forward, one of the best on the planet, finally translated his goal-scoring power to the national team and delivered a tournament for the ages.
Haaland ended the World Cup with seven goals, among the top scorers, and was the engine of a brave, direct Norway. The dream ended in the quarter-finals against England (1-2), in a match decided in extra time by a Bellingham brace, but by then the Norwegians had already left their mark.
Knocking out Brazil and reaching the quarters on their return to the elite makes Norway one of the tournament's stories. With Haaland at his peak, the feeling is that this is only the beginning. See his goals and the World Cup bracket on our site.