Norway Faces England in FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final

Miami. Four weeks ago, if Norwegians were told their team would reach the World Cup quarter-finals, they would have probably laughed it off. But this weekend, this Scandinavian nation is preparing to create new history.

Norway's unbelievable journey in North America is now entering a new chapter, where the 'dark horse' of this competition faces title contender England for a place in the semi-finals.

It took Norway a full 28 years to return to football's biggest stage. But they have made their mark in style. As the traditional Viking-style celebrations continue to capture the world's attention, striker Erling Haaland has become an internet favorite.

With a lethal presence in the opponent's box on the field and a fun and clear personality off the field, Haaland has become a complete entertainer for the audience. His excellent goal-scoring record makes anyone forget that this is his first World Cup. Now, this tall striker will compete with England's Harry Kane, another 'number nine' who is adept at scoring when needed.

• How did Norway and England get here?

In Group 'I', Norway finished second with 6 points after defeating Senegal and Iraq and losing to France. In the knockout stage, Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and then stunned world champions Brazil with the same scoreline to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

In Group 'L', England finished top with 7 points after defeating Croatia and Panama and drawing with Ghana. In the Round of 32 match, England made a strong comeback in the second half to beat Congo (DRC) and then defeated hosts Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 16 clash.

• Pressure on England

The slogan 'It's Coming Home' echoed even louder when England, playing through high altitude, history, and a red card, struggled to defeat the home team Mexico.

The duo of Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have shared 10 out of the team's 11 goals, have kept England in the title race, especially when the team's defense has shown weaknesses.

England, who are in form and have more World Cup experience than Norway, are considered the favorites to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2018.

England winger Bukayo Saka said, 'We have been here a few times. But on the day of the game, whoever plays better will win. We are aware of this and our focus is on that.'

England's weak defense, which has kept only two clean sheets in five games, will now face its toughest test against Haaland. In the race for the Golden Boot, Haaland is just behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé with 7 goals.

• Haaland: The most talked-about face in the World Cup

Norway, a nation of about 5 million people playing in the World Cup for the first time since 1998, has performed much better than expected.

Norway, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time by stunning five-time world champions Brazil, wants to extend their magical journey by defeating another big team.

Although the entire team's hard work has contributed to their success, all eyes are on the team's main star, Haaland. This fair-skinned, long-haired, 6-foot-4-inch tall striker is now also creating a sensation on social media.

With his informal answers at press conferences, unique selfies posted on Snapchat, and collection of expensive handbags, this striker has attracted attention for reasons beyond his goal-scoring ability. In fact, 'Haaland mania' has reached its peak throughout the World Cup.

There is a flood of AI-generated and animated videos of him on Instagram, to which his popular song 'Ha-ha-ha-Haaland' is added.

Haaland said, 'Having fun is important. I like to joke around and have fun. My main mantra in daily life is to have fun and, of course, to train and prepare well.'

Haaland's excellent preparation has yielded results that even the 25-year-old player himself did not expect.

He said, 'Reaching the World Cup quarter-finals with Norway is quite surprising even for me.'

He added, 'It is a great honor for me to play in the World Cup, and it was a big goal of my career. It is truly special to be here and play with my Norwegian teammates on the biggest stage of football against the best teams in the world.'

• Norway vs England: Who will win?

The Opta supercomputer predicts England has a 50.4 percent chance of winning in regulation time, while Norway has a 25.1 percent chance of winning.

According to this model, there is a 24.6 percent chance of the match going into extra time.

• Who will the winner play in the semi-finals?

The winner between Norway and England will face Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-final on Wednesday in Atlanta.

• Head-to-Head

Norway and England have never met in the World Cup before. However, they have faced each other 12 times in other competitions and friendlies. England has won 7 times, Norway has won 2 times, and 3 matches have ended in a draw.

The last encounter between these two teams was in an international friendly in 2014, where England won 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

• Latest Team Status

Defender Jarell Quansah, who received a red card in the match against Mexico, will not be in England's squad. He will miss this quarter-final and potentially the semi-final if England advances.

Center-back Marc Guéhi has a minor hamstring issue and will be tested to see if he is fit to play. Another player, Reece James, is also doubtful due to a hamstring injury.

Defensive midfielder Jordan Henderson is confirmed to miss the rest of the tournament due to a broken wrist bone.

Meanwhile, there are no reports of any injured or suspended players in Norway's squad.

Norway's probable starting XI:

• (4-3-3): Nyland (Goalkeeper); Ryerson, Ajer, Hegghem, Møller Wolfe; Berg, Berge, Ødegaard; Sørloth, Haaland, Nusa.

England's probable starting XI:

• (4-2-3-1): Pickford (Goalkeeper); Konsa, Stones, Guéhi, O'Riley; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

About the match

• Who is playing: Norway vs England
• What: FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter-final
• Where: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
• When: Sunday, 2:45 AM