EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—For seven decades, Brazil seemed to have perfected the formula to winning World Cups. The Seleção played free-flowing, artistic soccer, turning the game into a beauty contest as much as a cutthroat competition en route to lifting the trophy a record five times.
But on Sunday afternoon against Norway, that samba soccer met its match: a 6-foot-5 Viking warrior who has absolutely no time for anything fancy.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Brazil v Norway – New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. – July 5, 2026 Norway’s Erling Haaland scores their second goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
With a towering performance, Norway’s star striker Erling Haaland sent Brazil packing in the round of 16, hammering home two goals in a 2-1 victory. Against the country that had innovated the jogo bonito, Haaland’s performance was a masterpiece of straightforward brutality.
Sunday’s game had lasted for 79 tense, scoreless minutes when Norway attacked down the left flank and sent a cross into the box. That’s where Haaland appeared first, muscling past his defender to meet the ball with his head and power it into the goal’s bottom corner.
It took just 11 minutes for Haaland to strike again. He received a pass outside the 18-yard box, turned—and lasered a low shot between his defender’s legs to erase all doubt: Brazil would be going home. Only a late penalty for Neymar, likely playing in the last World Cup of his career, narrowed the score line.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Brazil v Norway – New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. – July 5, 2026 Norway’s Erling Haaland with teammates celebrate after the match as Norway qualify for the quarter finals of the World Cup REUTERS/Carlos Barria
“If I get a chance or two, it usually turns into a goal,” Haaland said after tying the tournament lead with seven goals overall. “I don’t know how I do it, but that’s how I am.”
Norway is having a charmed summer in North America. The victory over Brazil came just five days after the Norwegians secured their first ever knockout-stage at a World Cup. But they also met Brazil at the right time: The Seleçao, which last claimed the title in 2002, has never gone this long without winning the whole thing.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Brazil v Norway – New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. – July 5, 2026 Brazil’s Neymar Jr. looks dejected after the match as Brazil are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
And if any player was going to prove the crucial difference on a historic night, it was the scorer feared across Europe and known as “The Terminator.”
For years, as Haaland led the line for Manchester City in the Premier League, he has distinguished himself as modern soccer’s most unstoppable force. In 2023, Haaland shattered the league’s goal record, knocking in 36 across a single campaign. He was the focal point of the most historic club team in recent memory, pushing City to championships in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
The difference at the World Cup was that he would not have the best players on earth as his teammates—he would have his countrymen from a nation that had never come close to keeping pace with soccer’s global powers.
“It’s been so long, and you’ve been trying for so long and then it doesn’t happen, you get used to it not happening,” Haaland said last month.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Brazil v Norway – Fans gather in New York – New York, U.S. – July 5, 2026 Norway fans celebrate their win in Times Square REUTERS/Ryan Murphy
Nevertheless, Haaland has emerged as the rarest sort of superstar: the one who can single-handedly spark a Cinderella run. Over the course of Sunday’s game, Brazil seemed to outclass Norway, and the expected goals metric had them well ahead, 2.75 to 0.84.
But every time the hulking Haaland blazed toward the goal, with a pair of defenders hanging onto him for dear life, the stadium full of Brazilian supporters held its breath, for one simple reason.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Brazil v Norway – Fans gather in Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil – July 5, 2026 Brazil fan watches the match in Sao Paulo REUTERS/Tuane Fernandes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Haaland only needed half a chance to make Norwegian soccer history.
Write to Robert O’Connell at robert.oconnell@wsj.com
