Erling Haaland Scores Twice as Norway Reaches World Cup Quarterfinals for First Time

In a historic night at the 2026 World Cup, Erling Haaland scored two goals to lead Norway to a surprising 2-1 victory over Brazil, securing Norway's first-ever quarterfinal appearance in the tournament. Haaland's brace brought his tournament total to seven goals, tying him with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe as the top scorers so far. The match saw Brazil miss a penalty early on when Bruno Guimaraes failed to convert in the 14th minute. Haaland opened the scoring in the 79th minute, marking his 14th consecutive international match with a goal, and sealed the win with a second goal in the 90th minute. Neymar scored a late consolation goal in stoppage time, which was likely his last World Cup goal for Brazil.

Brazil's early exit has sparked criticism of coach Carlo Ancelotti, who declined to speak to the media after the game, sending his assistant and son Davide instead. Ancelotti acknowledged the penalty miss, stating it was pre-decided that Guimaraes would take the shot. The Brazilian coach's future with the team is uncertain amid the backlash. Norway will face the winner of the Mexico vs. England match in the quarterfinals, continuing their unprecedented run in the tournament.