Erling Haaland's first words after historic triumph over Brazil

05.07.26 FT World Cup

Brazil

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Norway

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Norwegian striker Erling Haaland expressed his pride and satisfaction after playing a pivotal role in Norway's victory over Brazil (2-1), securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

The Vikings pulled off one of the tournament's biggest upsets, defying all odds and knocking out the Seleção led by Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. It was a top-class performance in which the Manchester City forward particularly stood out.

Haaland opened the scoring in the 80th minute with a powerful header before sealing Norway's win nine minutes later with a stunning strike from outside the box.

Haaland reacts to Brazil's elimination

After the match, the Norwegian striker said: "This match is the greatest in Norway's history. We are proud to have beaten Brazil after already knocking out Ivory Coast in the previous round."

He continued: "We are extremely proud of this achievement. We put in a great performance against Brazil and I hope this inspires many young people, just as I was inspired when I was a child. We are very proud of what we've accomplished here."

Haaland then added: "I was happy with my two goals, especially the second one. In this kind of match, chances are rare. You have to be clinical when the opportunity arises."

The Norwegian striker also emphasized: "This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful nights in the history of Norwegian football. Wearing the national team jersey is an immense source of pride for me, and I hope this achievement inspires future generations."

Finally, he concluded: "I feel very confident at the moment. When I get a chance in front of goal, I try to be decisive. That's often what makes the difference on the big stage."

Brazil: Carlo Ancelotti expected to continue despite elimination

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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