The FIFA bracket 2026 took a major turn on day 25, when Norway knocked out five-time winners Brazil and the tournament was reduced to 12 teams. The result removes one of the competition's most decorated sides before the quarter-finals and changes the picture for everyone still left alive.
Erling Haaland remains at the center of Norway's run, with the striker joint-top of the World Cup scoring charts on seven goals. That scoring form has helped carry Norway through a tournament in which goals have not always come easily, and the team now moves into a quarter-final against England on Saturday.
What day 25 changed
Norway's win over Brazil was one of two major results on day 25, with England also beating Mexico. Later on Monday, Folarin Balogun was available to play Belgium, while Spain were set to meet Portugal in another quarter-final.
The bracket now has just 12 teams left, which makes every remaining match easier to map out and every upset more meaningful. For Brazil, the exit ends a run that had kept them among the most recognizable title threats in the field.
How the remaining teams got here
France had already dismantled four opponents in a row before a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the last 16, underlining how strong their form has been. Spain also arrived in the knockout stage in control, opening with a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde before three straight wins without conceding.
Argentina, the 2022 World Cup winners, had beaten Cape Verde after extra time. That kind of result shows how tight the margins have become as the tournament moves into its final stages.
Scoring race and quarter-final picture
Haaland's seven goals leave him tied at the top of the scoring race, ahead of players on five goals and four goals. The article also points to the wider shape of the tournament, with the knockout rounds now determined by a small group of teams and the pressure rising with every match.
England's next test is Norway on Saturday, while Spain and Portugal were also set for a quarter-final later on Monday. With Brazil out and only 12 teams left, the FIFA bracket 2026 has become much clearer — and much harder for the remaining contenders.
