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Norway fans celebrated late into the night after their team secured a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Brazil. Streets in major Scandinavian cities were filled with jubilant supporters, engaging in the now-customary Viking clap.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a header in the 80th minute and added a second goal just before regular time expired. Brazil's substitute Neymar managed to pull one back from the penalty spot with literally the last kick of the game.
Haaland showcased his class when it mattered most, latching onto an Andreas Schjelderup cross for his first goal, then doubling the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
These goals marked his sixth and seventh of the tournament, placing him level with Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race.
At the other end of the pitch, Norway's goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland delivered a phenomenal performance.
He made a series of crucial saves, the most significant being a penalty stop against Bruno Guimarães in the first half.
Nyland, at 35 years old the oldest player on his squad, was a massive factor in this historic victory, which ranks among the most significant in the nation's history – at least for the men's team. Norway's women's team won the World Cup in 1995, but the men have only qualified four times, most recently in 1998. Until now, they had never advanced past the Round of 16.
In the next round, Norway will face England. The match is scheduled for Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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