Haaland's Late Winner Sends Norway to Round of 16
Norway edged past Ivory Coast 2-1 in a tightly contested FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 encounter on Tuesday, securing their place in the Round of 16 after a dramatic 86th-minute winner from Erling Haaland. The match, played in Texas, saw Norway advance while Ivory Coast exited the tournament after their first-ever World Cup knockout match.
Solbakken: Haaland is the World's Best Goalscorer
Norway coach Stale Solbakken praised Haaland after the victory, calling him the world's best goalscorer. "I think he's the greatest goalscorer in the world, I think there's no doubt about that," Solbakken told a media conference, as per Reuters. He noted that Haaland remained efficient despite limited involvement, converting his key chance and showing strong hold-up play without losing possession. "He didn't lose one ball today - he wasn't much involved, but he didn't lose any balls," Solbakken added.
Solbakken Praises Team's Response After Equaliser
Solbakken also credited his team's response after Ivory Coast's equaliser, saying Norway regained control and produced their best spell to secure the victory. "The best thing about the match was the way we came back after their equaliser, because that was a fantastic individual performance, but we came back, and we got the match the way we wanted, so that's the biggest achievement," he said.
Haaland's International Legacy Grows
Haaland added another chapter to his booming international legacy with the dramatic late winner. Solbakken highlighted that Haaland's presence brings calmness to the team, saying, "It brings calmness to the team when you have a player like him, and he is really under-rated in terms of keeping the ball up." The striker's stats for the national team were described as "out of this world" by the coach.
Norway to Face Brazil in Round of 16
With the win, Norway advances to the Round of 16, where they will face Brazil. Ivory Coast, despite a spirited performance, exit the tournament after their historic first knockout match.
