Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday to reach the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Erling Haaland scored an 86th-minute winner, sealing Norway's first ever knockout-stage victory. A tie with Brazil follows on 5 July.
Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday to reach the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Erling Haaland scored an 86th-minute winner, sealing Norway's first ever knockout-stage victory. A tie with Brazil follows on 5 July.
Antonio Nusa put Norway ahead six minutes before the break, cutting in from the left and bending a low finish into the corner. Ivory Coast levelled in the 74th minute through Amad Diallo, who combined with Nicolas Pépé before finishing beyond Ørjan Nyland. Haaland settled it in the 86th, turning home Patrick Berg's low delivery from close range. Nyland then denied Diallo's stoppage-time free-kick to preserve the win.
Kristoffer Ajer played all 90 minutes at centre-back and produced a first-half intervention to turn Pépé's back-post effort over the bar.
Haaland's goal was his fifth of the tournament in three games, having been rested for the 4-1 group-stage loss to France. It was also his 13th consecutive competitive international scoring, a run that has brought 25 goals.
Remarkably, he managed just 26 touches, the fewest of any field player who started and played beyond the hour. Norway coach Ståle Solbakken pointed to what else the striker offered. "I actually think he is very underrated in terms of holding the ball up. He didn't lose the ball once today, and that brings so much to the team," Solbakken said.
He went further on his forward's status. "He is the greatest goal scorer in the world, there is no doubt about that," the coach added. "Today he didn't have much involvement, but he had a big chance in the first half and then scored the goal in the game. He is out of this world."
Haaland told broadcasters: "This is unbelievable. I can't swear, but it is unbelievable. This is history."
Captain Martin Ødegaard urged his side to savour the result. "I think what we're going to think about now is to enjoy the win today, to be really happy and proud of ourselves," he said. Ajer described a low-key celebration at the team's North Carolina base. "We're going to go to the hotel, eat a good meal and we're lucky enough to have a pool in the hotel so we're going to spend some time in there together."
The result is Norway's first knockout-stage win at any World Cup. Their previous high point came in 1998, when a group-stage victory over Brazil took them to the last 16, a squad that also featured Solbakken.
For Ivory Coast, the run ends after a competitive campaign. It marked the first time the nation reached the knockout rounds, and their first tournament appearance since 2014.
Support in the stands was thin. The National Committee for the Support of the Elephants, the team's official fan association, had cancelled plans to send a delegation after visa restrictions were imposed by the Trump administration. Association president Julien Kouadio Adonis called the restrictions "a form of segregation that doesn't dare speak its name, but the proof is there."
Norway supporters, meanwhile, filled Dallas Stadium and performed their now-familiar "Viking Row" celebration, led by Ødegaard on a drum.
Norway now face Brazil in the round of 16 on Sunday 5 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brazil reached the last 16 with a 2-1 comeback win over Japan, Gabriel Martinelli scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Brazil have never beaten Norway in a men's international. Ødegaard kept expectations measured. "To go through to another round is unbelievable," he said. "Brazil is going to be a tough game, but in football everything is possible, but we're going to give it a good try."
