Norway was knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-1 defeat to England in the quarterfinals on August 9. The match was decided in extra time with Jude Bellingham scoring twice, including the winner for England [1, 2].
Norway took an early lead when Andreas Schjelderup scored the opening goal. Despite his team falling behind, Erling Haaland had a strong tournament with seven goals scored before Norway's exit [1, 3, 2].
During the 44th minute, Norway forward Alexander Sorloth faced heavy online criticism after missing a chance and failing to pass to an unmarked Haaland, a mistake that could have altered the game's outcome [1]. Later, with about 15 minutes left in extra time and Norway trailing, Haaland was substituted off for Jorgen Strand Larsen, stirring negative reactions on social media. It remained unclear whether the substitution was due to injury or tactical reasons [1, 2].
Haaland had become a viral sensation during the World Cup, inspiring widespread fan content on social media [3]. Norway, making its first-ever quarterfinal appearance, showed promise but ultimately could not overcome England’s resilience [3].
The 2026 World Cup quarterfinal marked Norway’s deepest run in the tournament to date. With the tournament continuing, England advances to the semifinals seeking their first World Cup final appearance since 1966 [1, 2].
