Bellingham leads England to halt Norway's adventure

Jude Bellingham scored two goals and guided England, the 1966 champions, from a deficit to a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway on Saturday in Miami, in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, sending the Three Lions to the semi-finals for the fourth time in their history.

Norway took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup (36'), but England responded with two goals from Bellingham (45+2, 93'), raising his tally to six in the current tournament. This was his second consecutive brace, following his first against Mexico (3-2) in the round of 16. At 23 years and 12 days old, Bellingham became the second youngest player to score two or more goals in consecutive knockout matches at the finals, after Brazilian legend Pelé in 1958 (17 years and 249 days).

England will face either defending champions Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Atlanta. The latter two teams are set to meet later in Kansas City to decide the final quarter-final spot.

Norway’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, having previously eliminated five-time title holders Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16. Their star striker Erling Haaland posed little threat to England, particularly to his Manchester City teammates John Stones and Marc Guehi.

This was England’s eighth victory in 13 meetings with Norway, with three draws and two defeats.

England manager Thomas Tuchel made two changes to the lineup that faced Mexico, bringing in Stones, whose contract with Manchester City expires this summer, for the suspended Jarrell Quansah, and Arsenal striker Noni Madueke for teammate Bukayo Saka.

Tuchel said, “We made things very difficult for ourselves today. The result is great, we are in the semi-finals, but I am not satisfied with the performance.”

England dominated possession but lacked penetration against a Norwegian side that parked the bus and blocked all avenues. Clear chances were scarce until the 29th minute, when captain Harry Kane fired a free-kick over the crossbar.

Atletico Madrid’s Spanish striker Alexander Sorloth nearly doubled Norway’s lead when he capitalized on England’s defensive hesitation in clearing the ball inside the box, volleying just over the bar. Odegaard also fired a low shot from outside the area, which Jordan Pickford saved with two touches (40').

Norway paid for their missed opportunities by conceding an equalizer. Spain’s Sevilla goalkeeper Oriol Nyland played a long ball that hit the stadium’s overhead camera cable, bouncing to midfielder Elliott Anderson, who laid it off to Newcastle winger and recent Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon. Gordon played it to Bellingham at the edge of the box; Bellingham controlled it with his right foot, drove inside, and fired a powerful left-footed shot into Nyland’s left side (45+2').

Norwegian players protested to French referee Clement Turpin, claiming the ball had touched an outside object, but to no avail.

Kane fired a low shot from outside the box that Nyland saved (45+3'). Kane also had a goal disallowed for offside in the fourth minute of stoppage time (45+4'). Tuchel then substituted Saka and Eberechi Eze for Madueke and Declan Rice (46').

Norway scored from a corner through Bologna defender Torbjorn Heggem (55'), but the goal was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for Haaland pushing Anderson before the kick.

The Norwegian striker denied England’s Brentford defender, Christian Nørgaard, from equalizing with a close-range header in the 73rd minute.

Jude Bellingham added a second goal in the 94th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from goalkeeper Rune Jarstein after a powerful shot from substitute Morgan Rogers outside the box.

England were awarded a penalty in the 101st minute after substitute Jaiden Anthony was fouled by Bob inside the area, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.

Key quotes after England’s 2-1 victory over Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals:

• “There was commitment, but the way we played made things difficult for us. Our performance was sluggish. We weren’t quick enough, and we were lucky today. We need to improve. Now it’s time to celebrate and enjoy what we’ve achieved, and we have three days to prepare.”

• “How can you question the mentality? This is the mentality itself. There is no problem with mentality. You could bottle it and sell it.”

• “Perhaps, but he may not realize what it’s like to play under such conditions against players like Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sörloth. It’s not easy to face a team like this. I can’t praise the players enough. You don’t win every game through possession. Sometimes you have to win the hard way.”

• “The match was largely even in terms of possession and chances, but when you have a player like Jude Bellingham, capable of changing the game, that becomes a decisive factor. The players’ heart and their strong desire to win are what carried us through this test and secured the victory.”