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World Cup 2026: Haaland turns it around against Brazil as Norway pull off a massive shock

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  1. 1 Brazil crash out already, Norway make history
  2. 2 Norway strike almost from the off
  3. 3 Nyland shuts Selecao down
  4. 4 Endrick livens Brazil up, but cannot finish the job
  5. 5 Schjelderup changes everything
  6. 6 Haaland, quiet for long spells, deadly when it counted
  7. 7 Neymar scores, but far too late
  8. 8 A Norway side full of steel, a Brazil side already gone

Brazil crash out already, Norway make history

Brazil’s Vinicius Jr, Neymar and Carlo Ancelotti will not be going to the quarter-finals. At MetLife Stadium, the Selecao were knocked out by a heroic Norway side, with a ruthless Erling Haaland delivering when it mattered most. A 2-1 win for the Scandinavians, sealed after a long stretch of tight, tense, at times maddening football, before the kind of striker who only needs two touches to change a World Cup took charge.

Brazil had their chances, a penalty, good spells, Neymar off the bench, Endrick’s energy. But Norway had Nyland in goal, Schjelderup as the spark, and Haaland to finish the job.

Canarinha are out in the last 16, just as they were in 1990. Norway, meanwhile, march into the quarter-finals and will face Mexico or England.

Norway strike almost from the off

The game could have turned in the 3rd minute. Released in behind, Sorloth cut it back for Berg, who finished superbly. But the goal was ruled out for offside at the start of the move. Early warning for Brazil, already rattled by Norway’s aggression and direct running.

Even so, it was Selecao who carved out the first big chance. From a Martinelli cross, Cunha was brought down by Ajer in the area. After a VAR check, the penalty stood. Bruno Guimaraes stepped up against Nyland, but the Norway keeper saved it on 13 minutes.

A huge swing in momentum. Brazil could have taken control. Instead, they had just woken Nyland up.

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Nyland shuts Selecao down

The Norway keeper produced the performance of his life. After saving the penalty, he denied Guimaraes again on 30 minutes, then pushed away a Vinicius Jr effort just before the break. Each time Brazil thought they had found a way through. Each time Nyland slammed the door.

He even sparked a Norway chance just before half-time, sending a long clearance that allowed Odegaard to face Alisson. This time, the Brazil keeper stood up to it.

At the interval it was still 0-0. Brazil had threatened more, but Norway were holding firm. And in a knockout game, that can be enough to set up the perfect smash-and-grab.

Endrick livens Brazil up, but cannot finish the job

After the restart, the game lost a bit of its edge. Selecao were searching for a spark, but could not quite find the tempo. Carlo Ancelotti then sent on Endrick for Cunha in the 58th minute.

The change nearly paid off instantly. From his first touch, played in by Vinicius Jr, the young Real Madrid forward found himself in a prime position, but he pulled his shot wide. A massive chance, the sort that weighs heavy when the deadlock is still there.

Endrick brought energy, intent, electricity. But Brazil kept running into Nyland, who was once again superb to deny Guimaraes on 63 minutes.

Schjelderup changes everything

Norway needed a lift, and Stale Solbakken found it from his bench. Andreas Schjelderup, on at the break for Antonio Nusa, grew into the game. Quiet at first, then braver, he eventually tilted the contest.

On 75 minutes, he forced Alisson into action. Four minutes later, he delivered the move that cracked Brazil. On the left, he drove forward, lifted his head and bent in a perfect cross to the back post.

Haaland attacked it.

Powerful header, perfect timing, Brazil asleep at the back. 1-0 to Norway on 79 minutes.

Haaland, quiet for long spells, deadly when it counted

For more than an hour, Haaland had endured a frustrating night. Few balls, plenty of scraps, and a Marquinhos-Gabriel centre-back pairing that stayed alert for most of it. But elite No 9s have a rare trait: they stay alive in games even when they barely seem involved.

On 90 minutes, he did it again. After another transition, the Manchester City striker whipped a shot across goal from the edge of the box. Powerful, precise, unstoppable. 2-0.

Two chances, two goals. Haaland has now joined Messi and Mbappe in the race for the tournament’s leading men, and he has sent Brazil to the edge.

Neymar scores, but far too late

Sent on in the 67th minute to a roar from the crowd, Neymar did at least pull one back from the spot in stoppage time, on 90+10. His 80th international goal. A big moment, but nowhere near enough to change Selecao’s fate.

Brazil will be left cursing Guimaraes’ missed penalty, Endrick’s chance, Nyland’s saves, and their lack of edge in the big moments. Vinicius caused problems, Martinelli worked hard, but the whole thing never quite clicked.

A Norway side full of steel, a Brazil side already gone

Norway did not dominate. They did not play dazzling football. They suffered, defended, waited, then struck with cold precision. Nyland kept them in it. Schjelderup opened the door. Haaland slammed it shut.

Brazil, meanwhile, are out of the World Cup. Out in the last 16, and out in a way that will sting for a long time for a squad built to go much further.

But at a World Cup, reputation counts for nothing.

And tonight, Norway had Haaland.

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