Erling Haaland’s Brace Puts Norway into the Quarterfinals, Defeats Brazil

By Daniel Feuerstein | East Rutherford, NJ | July 5th, 2026

For the fifth time, Brazil and Norway have faced each other either in a friendly or a World Cup match. So far, Norway is one team Brazil has never beaten in the last four matches, with two draws and two losses. So when these two teams met up again, some thought Brazil would have something up their sleeve to finally get the win. Sadly, it never happened, as once again Erling Haaland came up big to help his country lead them to victory and once again thwart the lemon shirts of Brazil as they took the match by a final score of two goals to one.

Two late goals from Haaland put Norway ahead

It was another solid performance from the Manchester City striker as he led his country into battle, while looking sharp and finding space to get himself into position to score those timely goals against one of the best sides in South America and the world. His first goal came from a lovely cross at the far side of the pitch; Andreas Schjelderup pushed the ball down to get himself into a position to make the cross. Haaland was inside the area, waiting for the ball to come his way, and made the leaping snap header to score the opener in the 79th minute.

His second goal was a stroke of genius when he was given the ball again by Schjelderup and attacked down the far side. Haaland was looking around to see if he would get any help to make a play or reset themselves while he was hovering near the Brazilian area. When he saw he was going to do it all by himself. Haaland got toward the corner of the area and blasted a hard shot inside the back post and converted the two-goal lead in the 90th minute before second half stoppage time was starting.

Penalty awarded after VAR review and saved

Brazil was attacking with the ball, trying to get themselves into position for a goal-scoring opportunity. Matheus Cunha got the pass and made his run entering the Norwegian area, and was taken down by defender Kristoffer Ajer. Right away, Referee Ismail El Fath waved his hands, saying no penalty. But VAR did call him over to the monitor, and it showed Cunha took a touch on the ball while Ajer did not touch it and took Cunha down. The penalty was awarded after VAR Review, and Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty was stopped by Orjan Nyland in the 14th minute.

Neymar converts a penalty late

While Brazil was trying to fight back with seven minutes of second half stoppage time added, they were trying their best to fight back, and they also showed some frustration against Norway to extend the stoppage time. But there was a challenge inside the Norway area that saw Leo Ostigard hit a Brazilian attacker with his elbow to the head while challenging for the ball. The referee pointed to the spot, and it was Neymar who converted the penalty in the 10th minute of second half stoppage time to cut the deficit. But El Fath blew his whistle two minutes later and ended the contest, knocking out Brazil and sending Norway on to the quarterfinals.

Norway heads to the quarterfinals with help from Erling Haaland

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