The Short Version
July 5 produced the biggest shock of the knockout rounds so far: Norway beat Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium to reach the quarter-finals, eliminating the five-time world champions in the round of 16. Erling Haaland’s side, who came through Group I behind France and edged past Côte d’Ivoire in the round of 32, have now removed one of the tournament’s heavyweights and booked a place in the last eight. Brazil, who had held Morocco in the group stage and beaten Japan in the round of 32, go home earlier than almost anyone expected. Norway are the third team into the quarter-finals.
The round of 16 was always likely to claim a big name — but few had Brazil pencilled in as the victim, and fewer still had Norway as the executioner. At MetLife Stadium, Erling Haaland’s side did what Norway have threatened to do all tournament: they beat one of the favourites, and they did it on the game’s biggest kind of night.
July 5 result at a glance
| Tie | Stage | Score | Venue | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs Norway | Round of 16 | 1–2 | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford | Norway |
A single match, but a seismic one: the five-time world champions are out, and Norway march on to the quarter-finals.
Norway stun the five-time champions
Norway beat Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium to reach the quarter-finals — the result of the tournament so far and one that reshapes the top half of the draw. Brazil, five-time world champions and among the pre-tournament favourites, could not find a way past a Norway side that has grown in belief with every round.
At the heart of it, as ever, was Erling Haaland, the match-winner Norway lean on and exactly the kind of forward who can settle a knockout tie on his own. Norway had already shown their quality in the Group I decider against France and by edging Côte d’Ivoire in the round of 32; against Brazil, they produced the performance of their tournament. For the five-time champions, it is a chastening, early exit — a team that had beaten Japan in the last 32 undone in the last 16, as the result confirmed.
Why it matters
Brazil’s exit is the kind of result that tilts a tournament. The five-time champions were one of the sides most expected to reach the closing weekend, and their removal throws open a section of the draw that looked, on paper, to run through them. It is also a statement for Norway: a nation that has spent years on the edge of the biggest tournaments now finds itself in a World Cup quarter-final, carried there by a golden generation with Haaland at its peak, as the day’s coverage reflected.
For Brazil, the questions will be long and loud. For Norway, the reward is a place in the last eight and a tournament that suddenly looks wide open in front of them.
The last eight takes shape
Norway become the third team into the quarter-finals, joining the two sides that came through on July 4:
| Quarter-finalist | Round-of-16 win | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | beat Canada 3–0 | July 4 |
| France | beat Paraguay 1–0 | July 4 |
| Norway | beat Brazil 2–1 | July 5 |
The remaining last-16 ties will complete the quarter-final line-up over July 6 and 7: Mexico vs England and Portugal vs Spain on July 6, followed by USA vs Belgium, Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia on July 7, with the bracket set. Norway will face the winner of one of those ties in the last eight. The round of 16 continues on July 6 with Mexico against England at the Estadio Azteca.
Frequently asked questions
What was the July 5 World Cup result? Norway beat Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals, eliminating the five-time world champions.
Did Norway really knock out Brazil? Yes. Norway beat Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals — one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 World Cup.
How did Norway reach the quarter-finals? Norway qualified from Group I behind France, beat Côte d’Ivoire in the round of 32, and then beat Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16 to reach the last eight.
Who scored for Norway against Brazil? Erling Haaland leads the Norway attack and has been the side’s key match-winner throughout the tournament, with Norway winning 2-1.
Are Brazil out of the 2026 World Cup? Yes. Brazil, the five-time world champions, were knocked out by Norway in the round of 16, an earlier exit than most had predicted.
Which teams have reached the quarter-finals so far? Morocco, France and Norway are the first three teams into the quarter-finals, after wins over Canada, Paraguay and Brazil respectively.
Who will Norway play in the quarter-finals? Norway will face the winner of one of the remaining last-16 ties, which are played on July 6 and 7.
What round-of-16 ties are still to come? Remaining last-16 ties are Mexico vs England and Portugal vs Spain (July 6), and USA vs Belgium, Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia (July 7).
