Erling Haaland Shines as Norway Advances in FIFA World Cup 2026

Norway Triumphs Over Ivory Coast with Haaland's Late Goal

In a thrilling encounter in Texas on July 1, Norway's coach Stale Solbakken lauded Erling Haaland following their victory against Ivory Coast. He referred to Haaland as the best goalscorer globally, emphasizing his crucial role in the match despite limited touches.

Solbakken remarked on Haaland's efficiency, noting how he capitalized on a key opportunity and demonstrated excellent hold-up play without losing possession.

He also praised his team's resilience after Ivory Coast equalized, stating that Norway regained control and showcased their best performance to clinch the win.

“I firmly believe he’s the greatest goalscorer in the world, without a doubt. Although he wasn’t heavily involved today, he had one significant chance in the first half and scored the decisive goal. His statistics for the national team are phenomenal,” Solbakken shared during a press conference.

“Having a player like him instills calmness in the team. He is often underrated for his ability to hold the ball. He didn’t lose possession at all today. The highlight of the match was our response after their equalizer; it was a remarkable individual effort, and we managed to steer the game back to our favor, which is our greatest achievement,” he added.

Norway narrowly defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in a closely fought match in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, thanks to a dramatic late goal from Erling Haaland.

Haaland continued to build his impressive international legacy by scoring a dramatic winner in the 86th minute. With this victory, Norway progresses to the Round of 16, while Ivory Coast exits the tournament after a commendable effort. This match marked a historic moment for Ivory Coast, as it was their first-ever knockout match in World Cup history.

Next, Norway will face Brazil in the Round of 16.