Erling Haaland struck late to give Norway a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the World Cup round of 32, booking a last-16 clash with Brazil at Dallas Stadium.
Haaland finished in the 86th minute from Patrick Berg’s pass, extending a scoring streak that now spans 13 straight competitive internationals and keeping Norway’s tournament run alive.
The win also carries historic weight for Norway, who record a first ever World Cup knockout success. They become the first European side to advance in an initial knockout tie at the finals since Ukraine in 2006. Ivory Coast exit after a spirited debut in the knockout phase, having out-shot Norway and dominated set-pieces without turning pressure into victory.
Stale Solbakken reverted to the line-up used earlier in the tournament after making 10 changes against France, restoring all those regulars in Dallas. Haaland immediately posed danger, seeing a close-range header blocked inside three minutes. The forward then endured a quiet opening period, managing only eight touches and completing one pass during a controlled but cautious first half.
Norway’s breakthrough arrived through Antonio Nusa rather than Haaland. Nusa cut inside on the right, confronted a defender and bent a precise shot in off the post, becoming Norway’s youngest scorer at a major tournament. Martin Odegaard supplied the assist, meaning the playmaker is the first player to create goals in three consecutive World Cup matches since Dirk Kuyt in 2010.
Before half-time, Norway nearly doubled the lead when Haaland attacked a knockdown inside the area, only for Ibrahim Sangare to stretch and block with a crucial intervention. After the interval, Odegaard’s influence continued as an inswinging corner reached Torbjorn Heggem, whose effort looked destined for the net until substitute Amad Diallo cleared off the line, keeping Ivory Coast within reach.
That clearance proved a turning point as Amad soon transformed the contest in attack. Linking neatly with Nicolas Pepe, Amad exchanged passes, then slalomed past several defenders with sharp touches before drilling a powerful finish. The goal dragged Ivory Coast level and showcased the Manchester United winger’s composure, especially given Amad had started the match on the bench.
Norway, however, found a response with time running out. Substitute Oscar Bobb threaded a pass through Ivory Coast’s back line to Berg, who advanced into space and slid the ball across goal. Haaland arrived unmarked to convert a straightforward finish in the 86th minute. Ivory Coast almost forced extra-time when Amad’s stoppage-time free-kick arrowed towards the top-left corner, but Orjan Nyland produced a strong save.
Ivory Coast and Erling Haaland World Cup records
Haaland’s numbers underline the influence on this Norway side despite limited involvement in general play. The Manchester City forward attempted four shots, which meant missing a chance to equal Karim Benzema’s 2014 feat of recording at least five shots in each of the first three World Cup appearances. Yet the main storyline remained Haaland’s finishing streak for the national team.
13 - Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last 13 competitive internationals for Norway, scoring 25 goals in this run. Inevitable. pic.twitter.com/q4Vcurxy6nOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2026
The streak now stands at 13 consecutive competitive internationals, with 25 goals in that stretch. Norway’s attacking output and key match events can be summarised against Ivory Coast as follows:
| Team / Player | Shots | Corners | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 9 | — | 2 |
| Ivory Coast | 14 | 14 | 1 |
| Erling Haaland | 4 | — | 1 |
| Amad Diallo | — | — | 1 |
For Norway, this match secures a place in the last 16 for the first time through a knockout victory, and reinforces a growing reputation on the global stage. Ivory Coast’s campaign finishes with credit after reaching the knockouts for the first time, despite failing to turn 14 corners and 14 shots into enough goals to continue the journey.
Individually, Amad achieved a striking personal milestone. The winger is only the third player to score twice as a substitute at a single World Cup for an African nation, following Roger Milla’s four goals for Cameroon in 1990 and Pape Gueye’s two strikes for Senegal in 2026. Yan Diomande, influential in the group stage, could not repeat earlier displays against Norway.
The match leaves Norway preparing for a last-16 meeting with Brazil, buoyed by Haaland’s ongoing scoring run and a first World Cup knockout success. Ivory Coast depart after a close contest in Dallas, having pushed Norway across 90 minutes, while performances from players such as Amad ensure this debut knockout campaign remains a notable chapter in their football history.
