Norway next game is Brazil, after Erling Haaland’s late winner sent Norway past Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 and into the last 16. The forward struck with four minutes remaining to settle a match that had turned after Norway led 1-0 at halftime.
Haaland’s goal was his 60th in his 53rd appearance for Norway. Antonio Nusa had put Norway ahead in the first half before Amad Diallo levelled for Côte d’Ivoire, but the finish went to Norway when Haaland found the decisive touch late.
Haaland’s 60th for Norway
The winner gave Haaland a clean milestone: 60 goals in 53 matches for his country. Ståle Solbakken had already seen his gamble of resting almost his entire side against France come under criticism, and he tied that choice directly to the result when he said, “The decision would stand or fall on the result of this game.”
He stood by the forward after the final whistle. Solbakken called him “The greatest goalscorer in the world,” added that “He brings coldness to the team,” and said, “I wouldn’t swap him for anyone.”
Norway’s rare knockout road
This was only Norway’s third knockout game, with the previous ones coming in 1938 and 1998. Both of those ended in defeats to Italy, so reaching the last 16 changes the scale of what Norway can now do in World Cup 2026.
Patrick Berg was the only player to start both of Norway’s last two matches, a reminder of how much Solbakken rotated before this tie. That leaves the core group fresher for Brazil, but it also shows how thin the overlap has been across the two games that carried Norway through.
Brazil waits at New York New Jersey Stadium
Norway now move straight into Brazil at New York New Jersey Stadium. Côte d’Ivoire, which had never previously made it through the group at a World Cup, are out after a match they had pulled level before Haaland ended it.
For Norway, the job is no longer just reaching the knockout phase. They have a Brazil tie secured, and the late finish against Côte d’Ivoire gives them a result built on a 1-0 lead, a missed cushion, and one final strike when the game was slipping toward extra tension.
