Norway Exits 2026 World Cup After Controversial VAR Decision Against England

Norway's historic run in the 2026 World Cup ended in Miami after a 2-1 extra-time loss to England in the quarterfinals. The Norwegian team and media expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing by French official Clément Turpin, particularly criticizing the VAR system for overturning a legitimate Norwegian goal and allowing an England goal despite the ball striking a camera. Former Norwegian striker Jan Åge Fjørtoft said the VAR robbed Norway of a rightful goal and called the refereeing unfair, while former player Kjetil Rekdal described the first goal controversy as "completely sick" and suggested Norway should have protested on the field to force a correction. Norwegian coach Ståle Solbakken acknowledged the harsh nature of sport but lamented the unfavorable calls against his team compared to their previous match against Brazil. Midfielder Martin Ødegaard expressed pride in Norway's performance, highlighting that reaching the quarterfinals after many years was a significant achievement and that the team left a lasting impression on the world stage.