Erling Haaland struck twice in the final 11 minutes as Norway pulled off a stunning upset, beating five-time world champions Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium to reach the FIFA 2026 World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
The Manchester City striker's double in the Round of 16 sent Brazil home earlier than any tournament since 1990, ending their hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time in 24 years.
For nearly 80 minutes, the match remained scoreless as both sides probed for an opening. Haaland broke through in the 79th minute, rising above Gabriel to power a header past goalkeeper Alisson after receiving a precise cross.
Just moments later, he struck again with a low, driving effort from distance that left Alisson helpless and sparked euphoria among Norwegian fans. The two-goal burst in quick succession effectively decided the tie.
Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland proved equally important to Norway's success, making several crucial saves throughout the match. He denied Bruno Guimaraes from the penalty spot in the first half, a decision that proved vital to the outcome.
Brazil did pull one back deep into stoppage time when Neymar converted their second penalty of the evening, but the goal came too late to spark a comeback. Norway held firm to secure the famous victory.
Haaland's two goals moved him level with Lionel Messi on seven tournament strikes. Norway now face either England or co-hosts Mexico in Miami on July 11 for a quarter-final berth.
The loss marked Brazil's sixth consecutive World Cup elimination at the hands of European opposition. Carlo Ancelotti's side, brought in to end the nation's quest for a sixth world title, suffered their earliest tournament exit in 36 years.
