Haaland brace sends Norway to first-ever WC quarterfinal
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- Erling Haaland scored twice in the closing minutes (79th and 90th) to seal Norway's 2-1 win and send Norway to their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal at MetLife Stadium.
- Brazil suffered their earliest World Cup exit since 1990, snapping a streak of reaching the quarterfinals at every World Cup from 1994 through 2022.
- Haaland moved level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé on seven goals in the Golden Boot race, having now scored in 14 straight international matches (27 goals).
- Bruno Guimarães missed a first-half penalty for Brazil after a VAR review for a foul on Matheus Cunha; Neymar converted a stoppage-time penalty but it was too late for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
- Brazil's World Cup title drought will reach at least 28 years by the 2030 tournament, surpassing the 24-year gap between their 1970 and 1994 titles.
- Norway will meet either Mexico or England in the quarterfinals, having previously lost both their round-of-16 appearances (1938 and 1998).
Why it matters: Brazil's elimination extends their World Cup title drought to at least 28 years by 2030 — surpassing the previous 24-year gap — while Norway, after losing both prior round-of-16 trips in 1938 and 1998, reaches an unprecedented quarterfinal behind Haaland's two late goals.
