Norway have secured qualification for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast, in a match filled with high tempo, chances and emotional upheavals.
The Scandinavian team started the match better and took the lead in the 39th minute, when Antonio Nusa scored a spectacular goal from distance, sending the ball into the top corner and leaving goalkeeper Yahia Fofana no chance.
In the first half, Norway came very close to doubling their lead, with Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth creating dangerous chances, but Ivory Coast’s defense and decisive tackles kept the score unchanged.
In the second half, Ivory Coast reacted strongly and equalized in the 74th minute, when Amad Diallo performed a brilliant individual move, passing the Norwegian defense and scoring accurately for 1-1.
After the goal, both coaches made substitutions to refresh the teams, while the match became even more open and contested in the midfield.
Just when it seemed like everything was heading for extra time, the decisive moment of the match arrived. In the 86th minute, Erling Haaland took advantage of a perfect pass inside the box and with a precise finish beat the goalkeeper for 2-1, sealing Norway’s qualification.
In the final minutes, Ivory Coast attempted to get back into the game, but the Norwegian defense held strong until the end.
With this victory, Norway advances to the round of 16 of the World Cup, where they will face Brazil. /
