The Brazilian national team will play a difficult match on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey against Norway and its star and all-time top scorer, Erling Haaland, in the 16-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Haaland has scored five goals so far, which suggests that he will be the most prominent threat to Vinicius' teammates, who have not performed convincingly since the start of the tournament on June 11. Which of the two teams will be nominated for the quarter-finals?

Published on: 07/05/2026 - 11:15

There are matches whose outcome is difficult to predict or predict who will win. There is no doubt that the confrontation between the Brazilian national team and its Norwegian counterpart in the 16-final in the 2026 World Cup falls into this category, given the close level between the two teams, according to what we have seen so far in the global tournament.

In the fourth meeting between the two teams, the possibilities and expectations seem open because Brazil won and qualified without a convincing performance, while Norway confirmed its solidity without giving the impression that it was conquering the “big boys.” When it played against France in the group stage, its coach, Staley Solbakken, decided to rest Haaland with a message that he preferred to save effort and energy to exploit them in times of need, and thus preferred to avoid the confrontation.

History is different, but the goal is common

The two teams must reveal their full cards on Sunday evening, as they both aspire to reach the quarter-finals. This is the weakest belief for the Seleção team, which only enters the World Cup with the intention of winning the title. How could it not, when it is the only country that has participated in all tournaments since its inception in 1930, and the only country that has won the cup five times (versus four for Italy)?

Read also the full match schedule and results since the opening

As for Norway, it is seeking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in its fourth participation in the World Cup, after playing in the quarter-finals in its last attendance, in the 1918 tournament in France. It then won over Brazil 3-2 in the group stage, in their third encounter ever.

In the 2026 World Cup, Brazil topped Group C against Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti, and reached the final 16 after eliminating Japan 2-1 in the round of 32. Norway, in turn, ranked second in Group A behind France, and beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the round of 32.

Date and broadcast channels

The confrontation between Brazil and Norway will take place on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at eight o’clock GMT (ten o’clock in Central Europe).

Its stages are broadcast on the BeIN Sports network channels in the Middle East and North Africa. In France, it is also broadcast by BeIN Seaport and M6.

Haaland better than Vinicius?

Football fans often talk about Brazilian stars in international competitions, but this time the talk is more about Erling Haaland. The reason is that the Manchester City player wore the captain's uniform par excellence and led the affairs of his country's national team, confirming his presence by scoring five goals so far, including the winning goal over Ivory Coast in the 16th final.

Read also: The King of Norway reveals the squad for the World Cup... Haaland is in the lead

Haaland (25 years old) is the top scorer in the 2026 World Cup, with five goals, behind Mbappe and Messi (7), and he is the all-time top scorer for the Norwegian national team, with 60 goals in 53 matches.

On the other hand, in light of Neymar's absence from coach Carlo Ancelotti's starting lineup, Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's player, played serious matches, but he did not rise to a mythical level that aroused interest. In the end, it is like the Seleção: a team that says, “It was my father,” and does not say, “Here I am.”

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