Erling Haaland secured a dramatic late victory for Norway, sending them into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when Haaland, the Manchester City striker, scored the winning goal that ended Ivory Coast’s hopes of a comeback. The match had seen an early lead from Norway through Antonio Nusa, which was later cancelled out by Amad Diallo’s equalizer for the African side.
With this victory, Norway, who had suffered defeats in their previous opening knockout matches in 1938 and 1998, will now face Brazil in the last 16 on Sunday. The clash promises to be a high-stakes encounter, with a spot in the quarter-finals on the line.
Haaland’s Rising World Cup Impact
Haaland’s performance throughout the tournament has been impressive, as he now boasts five goals, just one shy of the tournament’s top scorer, Lionel Messi, who has six. His continued form gives Norway a significant boost heading into their next challenge.
Near the end of the game, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo nearly forced extra time with a curling free-kick aimed at the top corner during injury time, but Norway’s goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made a crucial save to preserve the lead.
The win also marked a personal triumph for Norway’s coach Stale Solbakken, who had faced criticism after resting Haaland and fielding a weakened lineup in Norway’s previous group stage match, a heavy 4-1 loss to France.
Later on Tuesday, France will look to secure their own progression to the Round of 16 when they face Sweden in New Jersey. Meanwhile, co-hosts Mexico aim to maintain their World Cup campaign in front of passionate home supporters at the Estadio Azteca, meeting Ecuador in a crucial group fixture.