Haaland's 86th-minute winner sends Norway past Ivory Coast and into World Cup last 16

Erling Haaland struck four minutes from time to send Norway into the World Cup 2026 last 16, his 86th-minute finish completing a 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday. The goal, his fifth of the tournament, sets up a round-of-16 meeting with five-time world champions Brazil in New York on Sunday.

Antonio Nusa had given Norway the lead on 39 minutes with a superb curling finish, stepping onto his right foot to arc the ball around goalkeeper Yahia Fofana and into the top corner after Martin Odegaard’s pass released him down the left. Ivory Coast had shaded the opening exchanges — Nicolas Pepe and Ghislain Konan both threatened — but Stale Solbakken’s side grew into the half and Nusa’s goal reflected their growing control.

The African side levelled shortly after the hour mark through Amad Diallo, introduced as a substitute on 60 minutes. The Manchester United winger played a sharp one-two with Pepe, held off David Moller Wolfe, sidestepped Sander Berge and thumped a shot into the turf that bounced beyond Orjan Nyland, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Ivory Coast support.

But Norway reclaimed the lead when substitute Oscar Bobb — Haaland’s former Manchester City clubmate — slid the ball to Patrick Berg inside the penalty area. Berg squared it to Haaland, who converted into an empty net with Fofana stranded. Nyland then kept out Amad’s stoppage-time free kick to preserve the advantage and confirm progression.

Haaland had been a peripheral figure for long stretches, miscuing a downward header from Alexander Sorloth’s cross before the opener and being denied by a last-ditch block shortly after Nusa’s goal. His clinical finish when it mattered most, however, underlined why Norway — a nation appearing in their first World Cup knockout stage — have emerged as one of the tournament’s more dangerous sides.

Ivory Coast, who had threatened through Pepe and Emmanuel Agbadou across both halves, are eliminated. Norway now face Brazil on Sunday.