Jude Bellingham scored both goals as England came from behind to defeat Norway 2-1 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal, securing a spot in the semifinals. The Real Madrid midfielder, named Player of the Match, credited his teammates' resilience and fighting spirit for the hard-fought victory at the stadium in Florida.
Bellingham Praises Team Effort and Substitutes
“All the players have put in a very tough shift. So my thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who are out there who put in a great shift yet again. It's character and perseverance. Even when things weren't working, we found a way to win the game again. Whether it's in 90 or 120, we'll give everything we've got,” Bellingham said in his post-match interview with ITV, as quoted by The Athletic.
He also highlighted the impact of England's substitutes, stating, “Whoever was ready to come on, came on and smashed it. I'm so proud of this team once again in a World Cup semi-final.”
Match Summary: Norway Takes Early Lead
Norway made a brighter start and took the lead in the 36th minute through Andreas Schjelderup, who finished clinically after Erling Haaland had earlier tested England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with a header. England responded just before the break when Bellingham surged forward and calmly slotted home the equaliser. Harry Kane appeared to have put England ahead moments later, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Second Half Drama and Extra Time
Norway thought they had regained the lead before the hour mark when Torbjorn Heggem found the net, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, which penalised Haaland for a foul on Elliot Anderson during the build-up. The Norwegians continued to threaten, with Kristoffer Ajer hitting the crossbar, while England also came close through Djed Spence after a mistake by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, the contest went into extra time.
Bellingham proved the difference, reacting quickest after Nyland spilled a powerful effort from substitute Morgan Rogers to score from close range and send England into the last four.
Historic Milestones for England Players
Bellingham and captain Harry Kane have now scored six goals each at the 2026 World Cup, marking the first time two England players have netted at least five goals in a single edition of the tournament. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also achieved a major milestone, making his 18th FIFA World Cup appearance to become England's most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history, surpassing Peter Shilton's previous record of 17 matches.
What's Next for England
England will now face either defending champions Argentina or Switzerland in the semifinals at Atlanta Stadium on July 15.
Norway's Historic Campaign Ends
For Norway, the defeat ended a memorable campaign that included their first-ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. Their previous best performances had been Round of 16 finishes in 1938 and 1998, alongside a group-stage appearance at the 1994 World Cup.
