Overview
- Norway were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-1 extra‑time defeat to England in Miami on Saturday, ending Erling Haaland’s run of scoring in 14 consecutive competitive internationals and leaving him on seven tournament goals.
- The equaliser that turned the game hinged on a disputed sequence in which Norway say the ball struck an overhead Spidercam cable; FIFA published ball‑sensor data that recorded no contact and the Norwegian camp has criticised that finding publicly.
- Haaland, hailed for a tournament that included a decisive brace against Brazil in the round of 16, struggled for influence in the quarter‑final and was substituted in extra time as coach Ståle Solbakken searched for a response.
- Off the pitch Haaland's profile exploded further with viral lookalikes, a Miami pre‑match lookalike contest and a Russian model’s video that reached roughly 110 million views while his girlfriend’s follower count jumped past a million and she posted an emotional message after the exit.
- The defeat has triggered abusive messages sent to Norway players and partners, drawn public criticism from Haaland’s father, and highlighted how ball‑tracking technology and social media shape both match disputes and the personal fallout for players.