Norway Defeats Ivory Coast, Eyes Brazil Next
Norway secured its first World Cup knockout victory with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, advancing to face Brazil in the Round of 16 on July 5.
Norway head coach Staale Solbakken acknowledged facing a formidable opponent, expressing sympathy for Ivory Coast, while coach Emarks Faye believes his players gained invaluable experience in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 match. Norway edged out Ivory Coast 2-1, with goals from Antonio Nusa in the 39th minute and Erling Haaland in the 86th minute, while Ahmad Diallo scored for Ivory Coast in the 74th minute. This marks Norway's first World Cup knockout victory in the nation's history, advancing them to the Round of 16 where they will face Brazil on July 5. Solbakken stated: "We faced an excellent team with many strong players. The game went back and forth with possibilities everywhere. Though this was a deserved victory, I sympathize with them. It's hard to find the right words." Faye commented: "It's truly disappointing. We managed to equalize, which was the hardest thing to do. Every player gave their all until the final second. This was everyone's first World Cup. I believe the players learned a lot. Now we'll work to come back stronger in the future."
