World Cup games yesterday turned on Erling Haaland, whose 86th-minute winner sent Norway past Ivory Coast 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32. The result moved Norway into the Round of 16 and ended Ivory Coast’s first-ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup knockout match.
Haaland Delivers in the 86th Minute
Norway needed late precision, and Haaland provided it on Tuesday local time. His goal broke a 2-1 match and settled a round that had stayed tight deep into the closing minutes.
The margin was one goal, but the timing carried the weight. Norway did not have to drag the match into a longer finish; the winner arrived in the 86th minute and sent the team through immediately.
Ivory Coast Stays in the Game
Ivory Coast’s spirited display did not prevent Norway from winning 2-1 and eliminating them from the tournament. That matters because this was Ivory Coast’s first-ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, a step the side reached before Norway shut the door late.
For Norway, the path now leads to Brazil in the Round of 16. That matchup is the next clear consequence of the win, and it follows a game that Norway had to solve late rather than control early.
Haaland’s X Post After the Win
After the victory, Haaland shifted from scorer to showman. He posted two photographs of himself in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat on X, then followed with a Viking-themed photograph of himself wearing a horned Viking helmet and Norway’s national team jersey.
He captioned the cowboy photos with “Howdy!” and also became the fastest player to score 60 international goals for Norway. The social posts matched the moment: Norway had advanced, Haaland had decided it, and the team’s tournament stays alive in the Round of 16.
