Haaland's 60th Norway Goal Sends the Vikings to Their First World Cup Last 16 Since 1998

[Quarry92]

Erling Haaland scored his fifth goal of the 2026 World Cup in the 86th minute at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday to complete a 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast and send Norway to the round of 16 for the first time since France 1998. Norway's 60th international goal was scored by Haaland, who had endured a frustrating afternoon before his instinctive close-range finish from Patrick Berg's low cross finally ended Ivory Coast's resistance and sent the red-clad Norway supporters behind the goal into pandemonium. Haaland wept visibly after the final whistle, telling reporters it felt unbelievable, telling them he had never won anything like this before at international level.

Antonio Nusa had given Norway the lead with a beautiful first-half goal in the 39th minute, a curling left-foot strike that gave Ivory Coast's goalkeeper no chance. When Amad Diallo came off the bench and scored an absolute stunner in the 74th minute, bringing the ball down on his chest before smashing a magnificent strike into the far corner, the momentum seemed to be shifting toward a potential Ivory Coast equaliser that might have forced extra time. But Haaland had the final word, stabbing home from close range to maintain his remarkable run of form.

Norway face Brazil in the round of 16 on Sunday July 5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a genuinely fascinating contest between the world's most lethal striker at this tournament and South America's most decorated footballing nation. Brazil are not the dominant force of previous generations and Haaland's physical presence will test their central defenders severely. Norway have qualified from their group playing some of the more direct, transition-focused football of any team in the tournament and that style may suit them against a Brazil side that still showed vulnerability against Japan.

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