There was a colossal upset on Sunday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a stunning result, Norway defeated Brazil by a score of 2-1 in the round of 16. The Norwegians got two goals from Erling Haaland, a star striker who plays for Manchester City in the English Premier League. Haaland scored in the 79th and 90th minutes.
What we are seeing from Haaland at this time is something special indeed. Haaland has become a superstar at the World Cup, and has become not only the face of Norwegian soccer, but Scandinavian soccer. Norway is traditionally a country known for its winter sports excellence. They dominate cross country skiing at the Olympic Winter Games. However, Haaland is joining tennis star Casper Ruud and golf star Viktor Hovland as Norwegians who are starring in summer sports.
Haaland now has 62 goals internationally for Norway. He is Norway’s all-time leading scorer. What is jaw-dropping, is that the 62 goals have come in only 54 games. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Haaland has seven goals in four games. He had a brace in a 4-1 win over Iraq on June 16 (in a game where Haaland scored Norway’s first two goals including the game-winner), had a second brace in a 3-2 Norway win over Senegal on June 22, and then the game-winning goal in a 2-1 Norway win over the Ivory Coast in the controversial round of 32.
What might be surprising is that this is not the first time Norway has beaten Brazil at the World Cup. They also beat Brazil 2-1 in Group Stage action at the 1998 World Cup in France.
