Brazil and its unfinished business against Norway

Brazil once again ran into one of its greatest football curses: Norway. The Canarinha has never managed to defeat the Norwegian national team in FIFA World Cup history, and at the 2026 World Cup that trend continued in the most painful way possible.

The most memorable previous meeting came at France 1998, when Norway defeated Brazil 2-1 in the group stage thanks to goals from Tore André Flo and Kjetil Rekdal. That result became one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, and nearly three decades later, history struck the five-time world champions once again.

An elimination that shakes the 2026 World Cup

The defeat stands as one of the biggest upsets of the knockout stage. Brazil arrived with the historic expectation of competing for the title, but instead ran into a disciplined, competitive Norway side led by a ruthless Erling Haaland.

With this victory, Norway advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Brazil bowed out of the tournament with another painful World Cup disappointment.