Côte d'Ivoire takes on Norway, led by a returning Erling Haaland, in Dallas. Later, France meet Sweden and Mexico take on Ecuador.Follow all the action in our live blog.Collapse all postsFilter PostsAll19Key Events1Cote d'Ivoire vs Norway14Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:23amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:23am20' The Elephants get a shot in from KonanNow they are breaking down the left!Ghislain Konan cuts in on the left and fires a shot - but it goes into the side netting.I think Orjan Nyland had it covered, but still.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:21amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:21am19' Norway break comes to nothingBy Andrew McGarryBetter there from Norway, they broke on the right but the ball was chopped off and it went out for a goal kick.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:20amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:20am17' Norway under pressureBy Andrew McGarryNorway has lost control of this one for the moment.They aren't creating a lot, and Côte d'Ivoire are getting it into wide spaces. Nicolas Pepe makes a dart there and gets it back but can't keep it in. Goal kick.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:18amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:18am15' The Elephants are building hereBy Andrew McGarryIt's definitely the right wing that is the focus for the men in orange.Another break and a cross to the middle, a Norwegian defender had slipped over, and the ball came off Yan Diomande's foot on the left, and it went out of control over the byline.After a slow start, the Elephants are on top right now. Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:16amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:16am13' The Elephants make a nice move - but the flag goes upBy Andrew McGarryCôte d'Ivoire are making some progress down their right wing, and that was a great through ball from Guela Doue to Ange Yoan Bonny, but he can't control it - and it's offside anyway.Norway will have to watch that, though!Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:13amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:13am10' Norway break but chance doesn't comeBy Andrew McGarryThat was nearly dangerous for Côte d'Ivoire.They gave it away in midfield, and Antonio Nusa broke free and centred it. Martin Odegaard tried to set Haaland free on the left but it was cut off.Holding possession is important here. Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:10amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:10am8' Côte d'Ivoire raising the pressureBy Andrew McGarryThis is better from the Elephants!They get a good cross in from the right, and Yan Diomande is there at the back post but it's headed away by Norway.And there's a couple of corners - nothing comes from them, but it's a warning from the men in orange.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:08amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:08am5' Côte d'Ivoire sitting backBy Andrew McGarryThe Elephants are playing it very cool in the early stages.They are sitting back and letting Norway dictate terms.That could be dangerous against Haaland.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:05amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:05am3' Haaland gets a header in but nothing comes of itBy Andrew McGarryNorway are showing they are going to use the flanks tonight.Alexander Sørloth made a break down the right, got to the byline and cut it in, Erling Haaland was waiting in the middle but his header was mistimed and was blocked by a string of players.Solid start for Norway.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:03amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:03am2' Norway controlling the ball earlyBy Andrew McGarryWe've been going a minute or two and the Norwegians have been controlling the ball.Antonio Nusa did a nice burst down the left - that won't be the last of those this evening - but we haven't had any clear-cut chances yet.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:01amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:01amWe are underway in Dallas!By Andrew McGarry(Getty Images)Here we go at Dallas Stadium!Will this be a cagey, cautious contest like some of the other round of 32 games so far?Or will these two teams want to go out and take control early?Côte d'Ivoire are playing in orange, which means Norway will play in all-white.The winner here gets a match against five-time champions Brazil! Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:58amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:58amHow Côte d'Ivoire reached the knockout stagesBy Andrew McGarryWinger Yan Diomande was one of the Côte d'Ivoire stars in the group stage even if he didn't get on the scoresheet (Getty Images/FIFA)Today is uncharted territory for Côte d'Ivoire, with the side playing its first knockout match at the World Cup in their fourth time in the tournament.They started with a 1-0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia, before coming back to earth with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Germany in Toronto, thanks to conceding the winner in the fourth minute of added time.But the Elephants finished on a high, beating Curaçao 2-0 in Philadelphia. They finished second in Group E behind Germany.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:57amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:57amThe anthems get a workout in DallasBy Andrew McGarryThis is a pretty packed stadium in Arlington, and the fans are getting into the anthems.First up is "L'Abidjanaise" (The song of Abidjan) the national anthem of Côte d'Ivoire.Then Ja, vi elsker dette landet, the Norwegian anthem.Both are reasonably slow, formal anthems. You have to say the Norwegian fans give their anthem a bigger belt.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:54amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:54amHow Norway got hereBy Andrew McGarryThere were plenty of moments where this flashed up on the scoreboard for Norway in the group stages - they wouldn't mind a few tonight (Getty Images/Offside)Norway is in the World Cup finals for the fourth time, and the first in 28 years.This year is the second time (after 1998) when they made the knockout stages.The Norwegians were in Group I, AKA the "Group of Death", alongside France, Senegal and Iraq.They started off with a 4-1 win over Iraq in Boston to jump to the top of the group on goal difference.They moved to New York New Jersey Stadium to face Senegal, and in a cracking encounter they started strong and then held on at the end for a 3-2 win to confirm their place in the round of 32.The Vikings, or Landslaget as they are also known, rested a number of players - including superstar striker Erling Haaland - against France in Boston. Not surprisingly, they went down 4-1.They still finished second in the group behind the French.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:52amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:52amOfficial names are importantBy Andrew McGarrySo if it is Côte d’Ivoire it must be Norge!Stop mixing the language issue up!- AndrewAndrew,The difference is that FIFA officially recognises Ivory Coast as Côte d’Ivoire at the tournament.Norway, is just known as Norway.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:49amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:49amThe Viking Row arrives in ArlingtonBy Andrew McGarryThe Norwegian fans have become famous at this World Cup for introducing everyone in the US and Mexico to the phenomenon that is the Viking Row.I mean, it's great that the fans are getting some exercise in - can't just leave it to the players!The fans have been getting stuck in around Arlington ahead of this game. Will they be doing this in celebration in a couple of hours' time? Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:46amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:46amCôte d'Ivoire's line-up against NorwayBy Andrew McGarryThe Elephants have made two changes to the side that beat Curaçao. Defender Christopher Operi comes out and Ghislain Konan comes in.Emmanuel Agbadou is also in.The Côte d'Ivoire midfield remains at full strength, with veteran Franck Kessie combining with big transfer target and speed merchant Yan Diomande along with Ibrahim Sangare.Young midfielder Christ Inao Oulaï comes in to beef things up in the middle of the park, with forward Ange Yoan Bonny and Nicolas Pépé — who scored both goals against Curaçao.Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:38amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:38amNorway's line-up to face Côte d'IvoireBy Andrew McGarryNorway may have rested a heap of players for the game against France, but now we're in the knockouts and it's win or go home.There is one injury change, with defender Julian Ryerson out and Marcus Pedersen — who opened the scoring against Senegal - coming in.The midfield is back to full-strength, with Patrick Berg, playmaker Martin Ødegaard and Sandor Berge.But the big focus will be on the forward line - with Golden Boot candidate Erling Haaland back in the striker spot, supported by the pacy Antonio Nusa on the left, and tall target Alexander Sorloth on the right.Key EventWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:25amWed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:25amWelcome!By Andrew McGarryWaiting for an instant World Cup classic in Dallas - just add people (Getty Images/FIFA)Hello and a very (very) early good morning folks, and welcome to another day of World Cup knockout football!We can't promised dramatics to match yesterday's stoppage-time winner followed by two crazy penalty shootouts.But what we do have is a fascinating set of match-ups to take you through the next 10-11 hours or so (pace yourselves, people!).First up we go to Dallas Stadium in Arlington, where Côte d'Ivoire takes on Norway (3am AEST, 2:30am ACST, 1am AWST).Then we shift to New York New Jersey Stadium, where Cup favourites France take on the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of the tournament, Sweden (7am AEST, 6:30am ACST, 5am AWST).And then we wrap things up with a tasty clash at Mexico City Stadium (or Estadio Azteca), where co-hosts Mexico take on Ecuador.I'm Andrew McGarry, and I'm delighted to be taking you through the early part of today's action.Email address