05/07/2026 21:13 - Deportes
A historic 2-1 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey sent Brazil packing early.
Sunday, July 5, 2026, will be remembered in global football as the day Norway pulled off a massive upset in the World Cup. With a monstrous performance from Erling Haaland, who scored a brace (79' and 89'), the Nordic side eliminated Brazil in the Round of 16.
The Manchester City striker proved why he is considered one of the biggest offensive threats on the planet, guiding his country to its first-ever World Cup quarter-final.
Brazil, managed by Italian coaching legend Carlo Ancelotti, started the match with a surprise: their biggest star, Neymar, began on the bench. Despite dominating parts of the game, the South American side hit a wall named Orjan Nyland. The Norwegian goalkeeper was the defensive figure, even saving a penalty taken by Bruno Guimaraes in the first half, cooling down the Brazilian spirits.
In the second half, Ancelotti sent Neymar onto the pitch looking for a spark, but it was Haaland who broke the deadlock. At 79 minutes, a lethal header opened the scoring. At 89 minutes, a low shot from the edge of the box sealed Brazil's fate.
In stoppage time, at 90+10 minutes, Neymar managed to score from the penalty spot to make it 2-1, but it was too late. The frustration was reflected in the Brazilian star's tears at the final whistle.
The defeat generated a tsunami of reactions in the Brazilian media, who did not hesitate to label the elimination as the worst performance in 36 years, since the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
According to Infobae, the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo headlined: Brazil falls defeated and the dream of a sixth world title in the United States fades. Meanwhile, Estadao pointed directly to the collective failures and the effectiveness of the Norwegian side.
The portal Folha Vitoria resorted to irony, titling: Haaland turns Brazil into a meme in the 2026 World Cup. The criticism focused on the team's passivity and Ancelotti's tactical decisions.
Norway advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and now awaits the winner of the clash between Mexico and England, who face off this same Sunday. The team, managed by Stale Solbakken, proved that their firepower, with Haaland at the forefront, is capable of overcoming any obstacle.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
