Norway booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after battling past Ivory Coast 2-1 in a fiercely contested knockout encounter at AT&T Stadium, Dallas.
After rotating several key players in their previous outing, Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken restored stars Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, and Antonio Nusa to the starting lineup. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, fielded a strong side led by experienced midfielder Franck Kessié.
The opening stages saw both teams exchange attacking moves in an evenly matched contest, with neither side able to establish clear dominance. Norway gradually found more rhythm in possession, while Ivory Coast relied on their pace and physicality to threaten on the counter.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 39th minute. Rising winger Antonio Nusa produced a moment of brilliance, finishing superbly to give Norway a deserved 1-0 advantage before the halftime whistle.
Ivory Coast refused to surrender and came out with greater urgency after the break. Their persistence was rewarded in the 74th minute when substitute Amad Diallo showcased his individual quality with a dazzling solo run before calmly beating Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland to level the score at 1-1.
With extra time looming, Norway’s biggest star stepped forward.
In the 86th minute, Erling Haaland demonstrated why he remains one of world football’s most feared strikers, clinically converting the winning goal to restore Norway’s lead and ultimately seal a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The final whistle confirmed Norway’s progression to the Round of 16, where an even tougher challenge awaits.
Solbakken’s side will now face Brazil, who booked their place in the next round after defeating Japan 2-1 in another thrilling knockout encounter.
With Haaland rediscovering his scoring touch and Ødegaard orchestrating Norway’s midfield, the Scandinavian nation will head into the clash against the Seleção full of confidence as they chase one of the biggest victories in their football history.
Credit Photo : NFF
