Norway looks to Haaland to beat Brazil in World Cup knockout stage

Norway's forward #09 Erling Braut Haaland celebrated after scoring his team's second goal in the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match against Ivory Coast at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on June 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Erling Haaland has been a nightmare for defenses during the World Cup. Norway will need their star striker to be at his best if they want to beat Brazil in Sunday’s last-16 match.

Haaland scored a late winner against Ivory Coast, bringing his tournament total to five goals. This victory marked Norway’s first win in a World Cup knockout game after 28 years away from the global tournament.

Now, they are eager to repeat their famous win over Brazil in the 1998 group stage and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

Haaland thinks Norway’s chances against Brazil are “very small.” But history is on their side. Norway has never lost to Brazil, with two wins and two draws in their four previous matchups.

Coach Stale Solbakken was a player when Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to advance to the knockout stage nearly 30 years ago before being knocked out in the last 16.

“Brazil are favorites, of course they are, but we are hopeful that we will give them a match. We are not playing for fun, we are playing to win and reach the quarter-finals,” Solbakken said.

“It’s possible, but it’s very difficult.”

Solbakken believes he has “the greatest goalscorer in the world” in Haaland. The Manchester City forward has scored in every one of his last 13 competitive internationals, totaling 25 goals.

“It’s amazing to have him in the team. We’re lucky to have him. It’s about giving him as many chances as possible,” said Norway captain Martin Odegaard.

Brazil has a key player of their own in Vinicius Junior. He has scored four goals in the tournament and is the team’s top scorer.

Vinicius is the first Brazilian since Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002 to score in all three group matches at a World Cup. That year was also when Brazil last lifted the trophy.

“I think every team needs to set up right and try to stop him,” said Solbakken, joking that his team might need to set up a “7-3-0” formation.

“It’s not easy. You have seen that so far in the World Cup. We will try to do our best.”

Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland knows how dangerous Vinicius can be. He spent three seasons in La Liga with Sevilla and has seen the damage he can cause.

He pointed to a strong qualifying campaign as proof that Norway can take down Brazil. “Because of what we’ve done over the last two or three years, we know we can stop anyone,” said 35-year-old Nyland.

Brazil is counting on Carlo Ancelotti’s winning experience to help them reach the top again. They needed a stoppage-time goal from Gabriel Martinelli to beat Japan in the last 32. This was Brazil’s first comeback win in a World Cup knockout game since 2002 when they beat England 2-1.

“Ancelotti is a surreal guy,” Martinelli said. “At half-time, he gave us confidence. He told us we would score and come back. It didn’t matter when the goal would be scored. We sensed his calmness. It relaxed us.”

Brazil faces another challenge. They have not beaten a European team in the knockout stage in the last five World Cups. They lost to Croatia on penalties in the 2022 quarter-finals.

Matheus Cunha said Brazil has spent “a good part” of their training preparing to counter Norway’s aerial threat. But he warned against focusing only on Haaland.

“I think we have to concentrate not only on him, but on several Norway players,” said the Manchester United forward.

“They have a very strong physical presence throughout the team.”

Lucas Paqueta is out with a hamstring injury, but Raphinha might be back after returning to training on Friday. The Barcelona winger has missed the last two games because of a thigh injury from Brazil’s second match.