By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: FIFA.
Norway eliminated the five-time champions Brazil from the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a stunning 2-1 upset in the Round of 16 at the Metlife Stadium.
Erling Halaand sealed the victory with goals in the 79th and 90th minutes, while Neymar scored a late stoppage-time penalty.
Brazil fans dominated the stands, hoping to see another sublime performance from a team who had been on an 11-match unbeaten World Cup streak in the U.S.
Instead, they watched in disbelief when their side sentenced them to their longest World Cup drought in the history of the tournament with their last triumph in 2002.
The momentum appeared in Brazil’s favour at the start, as Kristoffer Ajer conceded an early penalty with a foolish challenge on Matheus Cunha after 13 minutes.
But the Brazilian fans were left scratching their heads as Guimaraes stepped up to take the kick instead of Vinicius Jr and that confusion turned to exasperation when Orjan Nyland dived left to save the penalty.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken replaced both wingers after halftime, sending on Andreas Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb, a masterstroke that gave Haaland the supporting cast he needed to put on a show.
Halaand was a full head above the Brazilian defenders as he headed in the opener from a superb cross by Schjelderup.
Eleven minutes later, Schjelderup again teed up Haaland, who fired in an unstoppable strike from outside the box.
Neymar’s penalty 10 minutes into added time did nothing to change his Italian coach’s demeanour and the Brazilian great wept openly after his final World Cup match.
“I said to the boys today that I don’t think it’s 50-50, but we have a fair chance if we play at our best and have match winners, and we had that,” Solbakken said.
The Brazil players were left shattered by the humbling loss.
“It’s inexplicable,” defender Marquinhos said. “We have to take responsibility for this so that future generations can build on it.”
Meanwhile Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has stepped down after three months in charge following the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign which ended in the round of 32, he said on Sunday.
The 73-year-old, managing at his fifth consecutive World Cup, took charge in April, replacing Otto Addo, who parted ways with Ghana 72 days before the tournament.
“I leave this journey with pride in what we achieved, but also with the healthy dissatisfaction of those who always wanted more. Reaching a higher level should never be the destination—it should be the beginning of even greater ambitions,” Queiroz posted on Instagram.
Ghana beat Panama and drew with England before losing to Croatia to finish third in Group L and advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. They lost 1-0 to Colombia in the first knockout round.