MONDAY, jULY 6, AT 1:30 aM
NEW JERSEY, July 4: Brazil will look to end their long-standing winless record against Norway when the two sides meet in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The five-time world champions reached the knockout stage after coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side trailed at half-time before second-half goals from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli secured a dramatic comeback victory.
Norway also progressed with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, courtesy of a late strike from Erling Haaland, continuing an impressive campaign on their return to the World Cup.
History, however, favours the Scandinavian side. Brazil have failed to beat Norway in four previous meetings, including a memorable 2-1 defeat at the 1998 World Cup in France.
The teams last met in a friendly in 2006, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Brazil are hoping to move a step closer to ending their 24-year wait for a World Cup title, while avoiding their earliest elimination since the 1990 tournament. Ancelotti’s men have shown flashes of quality in North America but have also struggled for consistency.
Norway, coached by Stale Solbakken, have impressed with their attacking football, scoring in every match at the tournament.
Apart from a defeat to France in the group stage, the Vikings have won all their matches and will be confident of upsetting another football powerhouse.With Brazil eager to erase a historical blemish and Norway seeking another famous victory, Sunday’s encounter promises to be one of the standout ties of the World Cup Round of 16.Although Brazil enter the contest as favourites, history offers little comfort for the five-time world champions against a Norwegian side they have never beaten. With Ancelotti’s men chasing a sixth World Cup crown and Norway eager to add another famous chapter to their footballing history, the Round of 16 encounter has all the ingredients of a classic knockout battle. Whether Brazil finally end their Norway hoodoo or Haaland and company produce another upset, one team will move a step closer to World Cup glory while the other’s journey in North America will come to an end.
Beyond the statistics and historical records, Sunday’s clash also pits two contrasting footballing philosophies against each other. Brazil will rely on their wealth of experience, individual brilliance and the tactical acumen of Carlo Ancelotti as they seek to reassert themselves among the tournament favourites, while Norway will draw confidence from their disciplined, fearless approach and the prolific goalscoring form of Erling Haaland, who has once again emerged as one of the stars of the World Cup. The Scandinavian side have already shown they possess the resilience and attacking quality to trouble even the strongest opponents. (Agencies)
