Jun 30 (V7N) — Erling Haaland scored a late winner as Norway defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, booking a place in the last 16 and setting up a mouth-watering clash with five-time champions Brazil.
Norway will face Brazil in the Round of 16 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on Sunday (July 5) at 2:00 am Bangladesh time.
The Scandinavian side took the lead in the 39th minute when young winger Antonio Nusa finished brilliantly to give Norway a 1-0 advantage before halftime.
Ivory Coast responded strongly after the break. In the 74th minute, substitute Amad Diallo produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving past several Norwegian defenders before firing home a superb equaliser. The goal, his second of the tournament, revived the African side's hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
However, the match turned once again in the closing stages.
In the 86th minute, Patrick Berg launched a swift counterattack from midfield and delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker raced clear of the defence and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to restore Norway's lead.
The goal was Haaland's fifth of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory and sending Norway into the last 16.
With the hard-fought win, Norway now turns its attention to one of the tournament's biggest knockout fixtures against Brazil, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
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