World Cup 2026 Brazil Face Norway in Last-16 Showdown

BRAZIL · WORLD CUP

Brazil carry five stars and heavy expectation into the last 16, where they meet the one nation they have never beaten and an in-form Erling Haaland.

World Cup 2026 Brazil run into an unlikely bogey side

Brazil face Norway in the round of 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The tie is set for Sunday.

The round of 16 is the second knockout round of the expanded forty-eight-team World Cup. One defeat now ends a tournament, with no second chances.

On paper Brazil are heavy favourites against the Scandinavians. History, though, tells a stranger story.

The five-time champions know little about beating this particular opponent. Norway hold a remarkable record over them.

Norway’s remarkable record against Brazil

Before the 2026 World Cup round of 16, Norway had met Brazil four times and never lost, winning twice and drawing twice. It is a record no other nation can claim against the Seleção.

Their most famous meeting came at the 1998 World Cup in Marseille. Norway won 2-1, Kjetil Rekdal converting a late penalty after Tore André Flo had equalised.

That result stunned the reigning champions and sent Norway into the knockout rounds. It remains one of the great shocks in World Cup history.

Brazil will be desperate to end the hoodoo on Sunday. Norway will quietly believe history is on their side.

Seleção is the traditional nickname for the Brazilian national team. It means “the selected” in Portuguese and reflects the pride of representing the nation.

How both teams reached the last 16

Brazil edged Japan 2-1 in Houston with a stoppage-time winner from Gabriel Martinelli. It was a far harder night than the favourites expected.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side trailed at the break before fighting back. The escape exposed flaws they will want to iron out.

Norway came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Dallas. Erling Haaland struck four minutes from time to settle it.

According to FIFA’s official match record, the win was Norway’s first ever World Cup knockout-stage victory. Haaland’s goal was his fifth of the tournament.

Both winners, then, needed late drama to survive. Neither side will take Sunday for granted.

Haaland the danger man

Erling Haaland arrives in red-hot form with seven goals in the tournament, tying him with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.

The Manchester City striker has scored in a long run of consecutive internationals. Brazil’s defence will need to be at its sharpest.

Norway will look to feed him on the counter and from set pieces. Their plan against Ivory Coast was built on exactly that patience.

Brazil carry their own attacking riches in response. The favourites will back their quality to find a way through.

Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha give Brazil match-winners capable of settling any tie. Their pace in transition could trouble a Norwegian side that commits men forward.

The pressure on Brazil and Ancelotti

Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002, a long drought by their towering standards. Every knockout tie now carries the weight of that wait.

Carlo Ancelotti is the first non-Brazilian to lead the side at a World Cup. His pedigree brings both reassurance and scrutiny.

A slow start against Japan will worry the coaching staff. Against sharper opponents, such lapses could prove costly.

Brazil are expected to win, and anything less would be a shock. That expectation is both their strength and their burden.

What comes next

The winner of Brazil against Norway advances to the quarter-finals. A place in the last eight is the immediate prize.

Brazil will fancy their chances of going deep if they rediscover their best form. Their squad depth remains among the strongest in the draw.

Norway, already enjoying their best World Cup in a generation, will play without fear. They have nothing to lose against the favourites.

The tie pits Brazilian flair against Norwegian resilience. History suggests it may be closer than the odds imply.

Brazil have stumbled into the knockouts rather than swept through them. Norway, by contrast, are growing into the tournament at the perfect time.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Brazil play Norway at the World Cup?

The round-of-16 tie is on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The winner reaches the quarter-finals.

Have Norway ever beaten Brazil?

Yes. Norway have faced Brazil four times without losing, including a 2-1 win at the 1998 World Cup.

How did Brazil reach the last 16?

Brazil beat Japan 2-1 in Houston. Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time winner.

How many goals has Haaland scored at the World Cup?

Five. That leaves him one behind Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race.

Who do Brazil or Norway play if they win?

The winner advances to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The opponent there will be decided by other last-16 ties.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief