Erling Haaland delivered when Norway needed him, scoring five minutes from time to seal a 2-1 win over Côte d’Ivoire and send his team into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Antonio Nusa’s excellent first-half opener gave Norway the lead before substitute Amad Diallo pulled the Ivorians level in the 74th minute, but Haaland’s decisive intervention ensured Ståle Solbakken’s side survived a sustained push to book a blockbuster meeting with Brazil.
Norway took the lead before the pressure mounted on Côte d’Ivoire
The Round of 32 competition at the Dallas Stadium opened exactly as expected, with Côte d’Ivoire controlling possession while Norway looked to punish them on the move. Emerse Faé’s side enjoyed 52 percent of the ball, completed 442 passes with an 86 percent accuracy rate and repeatedly forced Norway backwards, but the Scandinavian side remained disciplined within their compact defensive structure and were more clinical when opportunities appeared.
Kristoffer Ajer (3) of Norway stops the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
The Elephants continued to attack on the flanks, ending the night with 14 corner kicks compared to Norway’s three, but the Norwegian back line confidently dealt with aerial deliveries while waiting for openings to counter. Their breakthrough came in the 39th minute through a move that perfectly reflected their game plan. Martin Ødegaard started the transition from midfield before the ball was then worked into the left channel for Antonio Nusa. The winger squared Guéla Doué, moved the ball inside to his stronger foot and created enough space to shoot. His curling effort was well in front of Yahia Fofana before cutting inside the top right corner, the goalkeeper had no chance and gave Norway a 1-0 lead against the run of possession.
Norway’s Antonio Nusa (20) reacts during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Diallo’s impact changed the game before Haaland had the final say
Côte d’Ivoire emerged after the break determined to turn the deficit around and kept up the pressure around Norway’s penalty area. Despite making 14 shots to Norway’s nine and forcing repeated defensive interventions, clear chances remained limited as the European side continued to defend the central areas effectively.
Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo (15), right, scores his side’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Faé’s changes eventually paid dividends in the 74th minute. Nicolas Pépé found space just outside the area before connecting neatly with substitute Amad Diallo. The Manchester United winger quickly linked up with Pépé in a sharp one-two, dropped between two Norwegian defenders and calmly swept a low finish past Ørjan Nyland to make it 1-1, capping off a powerful cameo that showed the momentum was firmly shifting towards Côte d’Ivoire.
Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo (15) celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
As the game entered its closing stages, the contest opened wide as both teams chased a winner instead of settling for extra time. Norway found it in the 85th minute through their biggest star. Patrick Berg won possession high up the pitch and immediately drove a dangerous low ball into the six yard box. Haaland anticipated the delivery faster than anyone, escaping the attention of Emmanuel Agbadou and stabbing a first-time finish past Fofana from close range to restore Norway’s advantage and silence the Ivorian supporters.
Clinical Norway survived late pressure to reach the last 16
The closing minutes saw Côte d’Ivoire throw everything forward in search of another equaliser, but Norway held firm to complete one of the biggest knockout victories of the tournament so far. Although Norway finished with only 48 percent possession and completed 411 passes compared to Côte d’Ivoire’s 442, their superior efficiency proved decisive. They converted two of their three shots on target, while the Ivorians managed only one goal despite registering five efforts on target from 14 attempts in total. Norway also completed 89 percent of their passes, slightly better than Côte d’Ivoire’s 86 percent despite seeing less of the ball. Defensively, the Scandinavian side absorbed a lot of pressure throughout the contest. They cleared repeated deliveries from the 14 corners they conceded, committed 14 fouls to break up attacks and received two yellow cards, while Côte d’Ivoire finished with 11 fouls and one booking. The victory takes Norway to the Round of 16, where they will face five-time champions Brazil in New York on July 5. The tournament in Côte d’Ivoire ended after an impressive but ultimately unsuccessful effort in which dominance in territory, possession and attacking volume was regained thanks to Norway’s composure in both penalty areas and Haaland’s final finish.