Haaland by numbers

This brace means he has scored 62 times in 54 matches for his country – including in all of his past 14 competitive matches, a run that has included 27 goals.

Alan Smith6 July 2026 01:20

Superior Haaland

Haaland has been named the Superior Player of the Match – one that you cannot quibble over despite the bewildering decisions that have gone before.

Alan Smith6 July 2026 00:55

Haaland leads the Viking row

(Getty)

Alan Smith6 July 2026 00:40

Golden boot contenders compared

Alan Smith6 July 2026 00:25

Incredible and yet deserved

For Norway, the United States is turning into the Haaland of opportunity. The country of five million people have powered into a World Cup quarter-final. The most decorated national team in history were cast out of the competition, Brazil’s dream of a sixth World Cup ended by Erling Haaland’s sixth and seventh goals of this tournament. A thousand years after Vikings set sail for the Americas, Brazil were subject to Norse rule in New Jersey.

It ended with Haaland banging the drum – quite literally – as the Norway players rowed in harmony with their supporters. Forget flying to Miami, they could get there on longships. The MetLife, which had seemed full of Brazil supporters, ended echoing to the sound of A-ha’s “Take Me On”.

Brazil failed to take them down. This was incredible and yet deserved. Out of keeping with football history, and yet in line with these countries’ meetings. A shock and yet, based on the game, no shock at all. Brazil have lost to Norway in a World Cup before, in 1998, but they still reached the final.

Richard Jolly in New Jersey6 July 2026 00:10

Trump’s influence

Donald Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to ask for US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban to be reviewed – before the ban was controversially suspended.

On Sunday, Fifa’s disciplinary committee announced that it was applying article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code to suspend the red card, meaning Balogun will only serve his one-game ban if he commits another similar offence in the next 12 months.

Lawrence Ostlere5 July 2026 23:50

Up next

Norway now await the winners of Mexico vs England.

The Three Lions have just arrived at the Azteca and the rain is failing heavily.

Join all the build-up for that one right here

Alan Smith5 July 2026 23:35

Alan Smith5 July 2026 23:30

Alan Smith5 July 2026 23:22

The greatest of golden boot races

Alan Smith5 July 2026 23:16