Norway forward Erling Haaland has set a unique record at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following his brace in the 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Round of 16 on Sunday, July 7. The Manchester City striker scored twice as the Vikings eliminated the five-time world champions at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 79th minute, heading home an inviting cross from Alexander Sørloth to give Norway a deserved lead. He then doubled the advantage by racing onto a through ball and calmly slotting past Alisson Becker, sending the Norwegian supporters into celebration.
Brazil's Late Consolation
Brazil were handed a lifeline deep into stoppage time when they won a penalty, which Neymar converted in the 90+10th minute. However, it proved to be only a consolation as Norway held on for a memorable victory. The result marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, with Norway eliminating the five-time world champions to reach the quarter-finals.
Brazil struggled to create clear-cut opportunities despite the attacking threat of Vinícius Junior and Matheus Cunha. The five-time world champions thought they had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the first half when they were awarded a penalty, but Bruno Guimaraes failed to convert from the spot as Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland guessed correctly to keep the scores level.
Haaland's Record-Breaking Performance
The brace took Haaland's tally to seven goals in the tournament, making him the co-leading scorer heading into the quarter-finals. The 25-year-old has now found the net in every match Norway have played at the 2026 World Cup, underlining his remarkable consistency on the biggest stage.
According to Opta, Haaland is the first Norwegian player to score in five consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, while his seven-goal haul is already the highest ever recorded by a Norway player in a single edition of the tournament.
Norway's Quarter-Final Opponent
Norway will face the winner between co-host Mexico and England in the quarter-final of the tournament. The Vikings produced a disciplined performance, securing a famous victory and a place in the last eight.
Kane Surpasses Pelé
In related World Cup news, England captain Harry Kane etched his name into FIFA World Cup history by scoring his 13th World Cup goal during the Three Lions' 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the Round of 32. The strike saw Kane move past Brazilian legend Pelé, who ended his World Cup career with 12 goals across four tournaments between 1958 and 1970.
