Norway 2-1 Brazil: Haaland Double Ends Five-Time Champions’ Run
Erling Haaland scored twice in the closing minutes to send five-time winners Brazil crashing out of the World Cup at the Round of 16 stage in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was a tight, largely even contest through the first hour, with Brazil handed an early opening when Bruno Guimarães won a penalty, only for Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland to save his tame effort.
The deadlock finally broke in the 79th minute when Haaland rose above Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães to head home, before doubling his tally in the 90th minute with a low, unstoppable drive from the edge of the box past Alisson Becker. Neymar, introduced from the bench, converted a stoppage-time penalty to give the scoreline a respectable look, but it was too little, too late for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The result marks Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990 and extends their run of being knocked out by European opposition to six straight tournaments. For Norway, it’s a historic achievement — their first-ever appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. Haaland’s brace took him to seven goals for the tournament, level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, and extended his remarkable streak of scoring in 14 consecutive competitive internationals for his country.
England 3-2 Mexico: Ten-Man Three Lions Survive Azteca Classic
In what many are calling the best match of the tournament so far, England edged out co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in a chaotic, high-altitude thriller at the Estadio Azteca — handing Mexico their first-ever World Cup defeat on home soil.
Jude Bellingham struck twice in the space of 98 seconds, in the 36th and 38th minutes, to put England 2-0 up before Julián Quiñones pulled one back for El Tri just before halftime with a well-taken volley. The game turned on its head in the 54th minute when England’s Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card, following a VAR review, for a dangerous challenge on Jesús Gallardo, leaving the Three Lions to play the remaining 36 minutes plus stoppage time with 10 men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, England extended their lead when Harry Kane converted a penalty in the 60th minute after Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel brought down Anthony Gordon — Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament. Mexico responded through a Raúl Jiménez penalty, won when Kane himself conceded a foul in the box, cutting the gap to 3-2. Mexico laid siege to England’s goal for the remainder of the match, but Jordan Pickford and a resolute back line held firm to seal the win.
Who’s Through, Who’s Out
Norway and England have both advanced to the quarterfinals. Brazil and Mexico are out of the tournament. For Mexico, it ends a run in which they had not lost or conceded before this match, and their wait for a first quarterfinal since 1986 continues. For Brazil, the defeat raises fresh questions about Ancelotti’s rebuild as they aim to end a 24-year World Cup drought.
Next Up: Norway vs. England in Miami
The two Round of 16 winners will now meet each other in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 11, in Miami Gardens — a mouth-watering clash between Haaland, in red-hot Golden Boot form, and an England side built around Bellingham, Kane, and Bukayo Saka. The winner advances to the semifinals.
Today’s Fixtures: July 6
Two more Round of 16 matches are on today. Spain face Portugal at AT&T Stadium in Dallas at 3 p.m. ET, followed by Belgium against the USA at Lumen Field in Seattle at 8 p.m. ET. Both winners will join Norway and England in the last eight, with the Spain/Portugal winner set to face the winner of USA/Belgium in the quarterfinals on July 10 in Inglewood, California.
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