Norway's forward #09 Erling Braut Haaland celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Ivory Coast and Norway at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on June 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Erling Haaland fired Norway to their first-ever World Cup knockout victory in a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday as France and Mexico also aim to book their places in the last 16.
Norwegian star Haaland swept in an 86th-minute winner in Arlington, Texas, to slam the door on Ivory Coast’s hopes of a fightback after Amad Diallo had equalised for the Africans following Antonio Nusa’s opener for Norway.
The Norwegians — beaten in both of their previous opening knockout round appearances in 1938 and 1998 — will face Brazil in the last 16 on Sunday with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
Manchester City striker Haaland will head into that meeting brimming with confidence after taking his tally for the tournament to five goals, one behind top scorer Lionel Messi on six.
