Brazil 1-2 Norway - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

The Viking conquest continues as Haaland claims Brazil

Whilst Brazil had the pedigree, there was something about this game that was far more intriguing than merely the country's names would suggest and nobody thought this would be a straightforward win for Ancelotti's men.

As it happened, it couldn't have been further from a simple game. Norway came out to play, took the game to the Brazilians and ultimately made them pay through none other than the robot himself Erling Haaland as he scored twice in a 2-1 win.

Brazil vs Norway as it happened

There was a feeling coming into the game that the Brazilians had vulnerabilities to exploit should the Norwegians get their game plan right and that was a sentiment which almost came to fruition early doors.

A slick move that heavily featured Martin Odegaard sent Sorloth away down the right, who was ultimately a whisker offside. the Atletico Madrid man pulled back to the edge of the box to the awaiting Patrick Berg who fired emphatically but fruitlessly into the top corner as the linesman raised his flag to quickly extinguish the celebrations.

Brazil, clearly not too fond of the quick start by the Europeans, didn't take long to establish their own attacking intent when a quick move culminated in Matheus Cunha being scythed down inside the box by Kristoffer Ajer.

The referee somehow decided it wasn't a penalty initially, but the VAR did its job and intervened to recommend a review which ultimately saw the ref change his decision. Bruno Guimaraes stepped up and, as much as it pains me as a Newcastle fan, saw a rather tame stuttered spot kick comfortably saved by Nyland to keep the score level.

The South Americans did seem to take some confidence from at least creating a chance, though, and did have the better of the chances, albeit all of them being half ones, before the hydration break was called in the 26th minute.

It was the boys in yellow who came out better after the pause in play too, with Martinelli immediately making a break to the byline and pulling a ball across that deflected off Nyland and beyond the waiting Guimaraes at the back post.

Odegaard continued to be the one who looked likely to cause immediate threat to the Brazilian goal, with livewire Nusa also looking lively on the left wing.

The latter provided Haaland with his firsrt real chance of the game as a cross was awkwardly help toward goal by the City striker, but was easily collected by Alisson.

Two tame shots on target by Vinicius Jr and Odegaard marked the attempts with the most potency before the half but, apart from the disallowed goal and missed penalty, both sides were unable to really threaten each other and went into the half about as even as a game of football can get.

Half time: Brazil 0-0 Norway

The pattern of the first half continued well into the second, neither side really creating clear cut chances but each having spells on the front foot.

The first massive chance of the half came immediately after Endrick was introduced in the 58th minute. The Real Madrid youngster spun in behind the high Norwegian backline and was found by a lovely ball courtesy of Vini Jr. The forward bore down on goal with everybody expecting the net to bulge as a formality but, as Nyland closed the angle, Endrick's lifted finish bounced just wide of the post and the deadlock remained unbroken.

The trading of punches continued in the 66th minute when Ajer put across a wonderful trivela ball toward the back post. Haaland rushed toward the ball and stretched every sinue to get on the end of the ball but could only watch as it drifted agonisingly beyond the end of his big boot.

Norway would test the gloves of Alisson not long after, with a move started by the bustling Haaland as he jostled, not for the first time, with Gabriel.

A couple of neat passes saw the ball fall to substitute Andreas Schjelderup who fired with venom but his effort was straight at the well positioned Liverpool goalkepeer who saved comfortably.

That period of pressure would ultimately lead to the deadlock finally being broken with just 10 minutes left on the clock. Schjelderup, who had been excellent since his arrival, burst down the left hand side and swung in a tempting cross.

Haaland moved effortlessly off Gabriel's shoulder and left him flailing before powering a delightfully timed header into the Brazil net. 1-0 Norway, the underdogs were ahead.

As expected, the Brazilians came forward with a vengeance, knowing they needed a goal to save their World Cup campaign.

Nyland, who was brilliant all game, had to claw away what was nearly a bizarre own goal in heroic fashion and Casemiro had a cross-cum-shot (get your mind out of the gutter) that caused a little bit of panic but was ultimately well cleared.

But that Brazilian pressure didn't last long and it was that man again Erling Haaland who sent his side flying into the quarter-final.

The big Norwegian received the ball on the edge of the box, looked up and fired a rocket of a striker along the floor and past a helpless Alisson. 2-0 in fashion that only Erling Haaland could pull off.

The referee tried his best to give Brazil a lifeline in the 8th minute of 7 added on when he awarded a mightily bizarre penalty for a seemingly innocuous aerial challenge by Ostigaard. Neymar stepped up amid some rather heated chirping toward Nyland in goal and slotted away the spot kick, but the goal ultimately proved ineffective in troubling Norway's lead and the referee soon blew his whistle to signal the end of the game.

Five-time champions Brazil out, Erling Haaland and Norway through. Absolute cinema.

Full time: Brazil 1-2 Norway

Brazil player ratings

Alisson - 5

Danilo - 5 Marquinhos - 5 Gabriel - 4 Santos - 5

Casemiro - 6 Bruno G - 4 Martinelli - 5

Rayan - 6 Cunha - 5 Vini Jr - 6

Substitutes Endrick - 5 Danilo - 5 Neymar - 7 Ederson - 6

Norway player ratings

Nyland - 9

Ryerson - 6 Ajer - 7 Heggem - 6 Moller Wolfe - 7

Berge - 7 Berg - 7 Odegaard - 8

Sorloth - 5 Haaland - 9 Nusa - 6

Subsitutes Schjelderup - 9 Bobb - 6 Aursnes - 6

Man of the Match: Orjan Nyland

Erling Haaland will of course grab the headlines, bit Nyland deserves his flowers for this performance.

The Norwegian shotstopper was equal to everything the Brazilians threw at him and pulled off some wonderful saves throughout the game, including the penalty stop from Bruno Guimaraes in the early going.

He also shows a bit of bite with the words exchanged with Neymar at the end, gotta love a bit of shithousery.