Norway takes shock lead over England in World Cup quarterfinal

England and Norway met Saturday in Miami for a 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal, a clash that pitted two of the tournament's most prolific strikers against each other in sweltering South Florida heat. The match, which kicked off at 5 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, featured Erling Haaland leading an underdog Norway side against a heavily favored England team captained by Harry Kane.espn+1

Haaland's Historic Tournament Run

Haaland entered the quarterfinal having scored seven goals in four matches, tying Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi for the most goals in the tournament. The Manchester City striker averaged a goal every 51 minutes in the group stage and round of 16, where he scored a brace to knock Brazil out 2-1. On the eve of the match, Haaland told reporters Norway's chances of advancing were "really low," placing the pressure squarely on England.sports.yahoo+2

England Favored but Under Pressure

Prediction markets gave England roughly a 65% chance to advance, with Kalshi pricing Norway's advancement at 36 cents on the dollar. Traditional oddsmakers listed England as a -200 favorite to qualify for the semifinals. NBC Sports reported that expectations had mounted on England throughout the tournament, while Norway played with the freedom of a team with nothing to lose.nbcsports+2

Heat and High Stakes

The Miami heat and humidity added another layer of difficulty for both sides, with temperatures presenting a challenge for European teams unaccustomed to such conditions. Norway took a shock early lead through Andreas Schjelderup, stunning the English supporters who had traveled to South Florida. The match represented only the second World Cup quarterfinal between the two nations and carried enormous weight for an England side still searching for its first World Cup title since 1966.nytimes+2