Norway advances in World Cup 2026 after victory over Côte d’Ivoire
Norway advanced to the next stage of the World Cup 2026 after a victory over Côte d’Ivoire. The decisive goal came late in the match from Erling Haaland, sending Norway through to the round of 16.
The match, held at Dallas Stadium, saw both teams contribute to an entertaining spectacle. Despite the loss, Côte d’Ivoire displayed strong attacking football throughout the game.
Match highlights and key players
Haaland’s winning goal in the 88th minute was not his cleanest strike, with the ball dribbling over the line, but it proved sufficient for Norway. This goal marked Haaland’s 60th international goal, making him the fastest player in history to reach that milestone.
Earlier in the game, Amad Diallo scored for Côte d’Ivoire in the 76th minute, levelling the score after a solo effort that saw him navigate past Moller Wolfe and Berge before whipping a shot into the bottom left corner. Diallo also made a crucial goalline clearance earlier in the match, preventing Norway from doubling their lead.
Norway’s attack, featuring Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, has been a key strength for the team. Odegaard, who has provided an assist in each of his two appearances this summer, took his national assist tally to 19. He has an assist per 90 minutes of 0.32.
In the 66th minute, Odegaard delivered a corner that led to a header flicked on for Heggem, whose shot from six yards was cleared off the line by Diallo. This moment highlighted Norway’s persistent attacking threat.
Stale Solbakken, Norway’s coach, appears to be leveraging his team’s offensive capabilities, particularly with two strong attackers. Norway’s three games in the World Cup 2026 have seen a total of 15 goals, with five in each match. They have scored three or more goals on two occasions but have yet to keep a clean sheet.
Defensively, Norway has conceded seven goals and has an expected goals against (xGA) of exactly 4.0, which is the ninth highest among the remaining nations in the competition. This defensive record suggests a focus on outscoring opponents.
Looking ahead for Norway
Following their victory, Norway will now travel to New York for a round-of-16 showdown against Brazil. The winner of that match will proceed to a quarter-final in Miami, where they could face Mexico, Ecuador, England, or DR Congo.
Côte d’Ivoire, despite their elimination, contributed significantly to the tournament with their attacking play. They had scored at least one goal in all three of their matches to date. Their defence, while keeping two clean sheets, allowed teams like Curacao to rack up an xG of 0.50 and Ecuador to hit the woodwork three times.
The match saw several substitutions, with Norway bringing on Bobb and Schjelderup for Nusa and Sorloth in the 71st minute. Later, in the 83rd minute, Pedersen was replaced by Aursnes at right-back. For Côte d’Ivoire, Pepe was replaced by Diakite in the 88th minute.
The game also included a drinks break in the 68th minute, a common feature in tournaments. The final whistle confirmed Norway’s progression, with the team celebrating their win in Dallas.
Norway is considered a favourite to qualify for the next stage, with odds of 8/15 to win their round of 32 game against Ivory Coast.
The odds for Martin Odegaard to achieve 1+ assist were 18/5 with Coral and Ladbrokes, and 5/2 with bet365 and Sky Bet, with these firms paying out if the bet clicks in extra time.
The odds for Erling Haaland to score anytime were generally 8/11, and as short as 8/13 in some places.
The odds for over 2.5 goals and both teams to score were 11/10.
The odds were correct as of 15:00 BST on June 29, 2026.
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Source: sportinglife.com