Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their 2026 World Cup round of 32 match held June 30 in Arlington, Texas. [1, 2, 3] Antonio Nusa opened the scoring for Norway with a curling effort around the 40th minute. [1, 2, 4] Ivory Coast substitute Amad Diallo equalized in the 74th minute. [1, 2, 4]
Erling Haaland scored the winning goal in the 86th or 87th minute, his fifth goal of the tournament. [1, 2, 3] The assist came from midfielder Patrick Berg. [2, 4, 5] Haaland, who scored his 60th goal in 53 appearances for Norway at the senior international level, had a relatively quiet game with limited service due to Norway's defensive approach but came alive late to secure victory. [6, 2, 7]
Norway coach Stale Solbakken called Haaland "the greatest goalscorer in the world" and said, "You know that today, he wasn't that much involved... I think he had one big chance in the first half and obviously scored the winning goal again... It brings calmness to the team when you have a player like him." [3] Haaland himself admitted after the match, "I was dead tired, so I thought 'I can't cope with extra time, so we have to score.'" [2]
Former England international Wayne Rooney praised Haaland, saying, "Norway are a very good team, and purely because of that man, because of his goals, he has proven that he belongs at this World Cup level. He is just devastating. He wasn't in the game much, but he came up with the winning goal." [6] England captain Steph Houghton said, "I think Norway had the final bit of quality. The big man was always going to score the winner." [6]
Norway's win marked their first-ever knockout victory at a World Cup. [2, 3] They will face Brazil next in the last 16 match scheduled July 5 in a venue in the New York/New Jersey area. [1, 2, 3]
