Erling Haaland scored twice in the closing stages to fire Norway into their first ever FIFA World Cup quarterfinal with a stunning 2 to 1 victory over Brazil on Sunday, ending the South American giants’ campaign at the round of 16 stage for the first time since 1990. Playing at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, Norway survived relentless Brazilian pressure before Haaland struck in the 79th and 90th minutes to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Neymar scored a penalty deep into stoppage time, but Brazil ran out of time to complete a comeback. The result also extended Brazil’s painful record against Norway. The five time world champions have still never beaten the Scandinavian side in a World Cup match. Norway will now face either co hosts Mexico or England in the quarterfinals in Miami on July 11. Haaland’s brace lifted his tournament tally to seven goals, drawing level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Nyland’s heroics keep Brazil at bay before Haaland delivers Brazil dominated much of the opening hour but repeatedly found Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland standing in their way. The biggest moment of the first half came when referee Ismail Elfath awarded Brazil a penalty after a VAR review overturned his original decision. Bruno Guimaraes stepped up, but Nyland guessed correctly and pushed away the spot kick with a superb diving save. Nyland continued his outstanding performance by denying Gabriel Martinelli, Vinicius Junior and Bruno Guimaraes on several occasions. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti handed Gabriel Martinelli a starting place after his winning goal against Japan in the previous round. Norway, meanwhile, welcomed back defender Julian Ryerson after he recovered from a thigh injury. Norway coach Stale Solbakken changed the match after halftime by introducing Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup. The tactical switch gave Norway greater attacking width and helped create both decisive goals. Brazil’s World Cup dream ends as Norway celebrates history Schjelderup delivered a precise cross in the 79th minute, allowing Haaland to power a header beyond Alisson and give Norway the lead. Brazil pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Haaland struck again in the 90th minute. The Manchester City striker drilled a powerful low shot into the corner from outside the penalty area to double Norway’s advantage. Neymar entered the match in the 67th minute to a huge ovation and converted Brazil’s second penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time after Casemiro suffered an elbow inside the box. The goal arrived too late to rescue the Selecao. The defeat marked Brazil’s sixth consecutive World Cup elimination by European opposition despite appointing Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24 year wait for another world title. Norway’s victory sparked huge celebrations back home, where more than 90,000 supporters filled central Oslo to celebrate the country’s greatest football achievement. Haaland described it as “one of the sickest days ever in Norwegian history.”
Paraguay Make World Cup History as Germany Crash Out in Stunning Upset
Paraguay produced the biggest upset of the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage on Monday, eliminating four time champions Germany 4 to 3 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1 to 1 draw following extra time at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Ranked 37th in the latest FIFA rankings, Paraguay defied the odds against 12th ranked Germany in front of 63,945 spectators to book their place in the Round of 16. It was the tournament’s first penalty shootout and one of the biggest knockout upsets in World Cup history. Paraguay make history! 🇵🇾After scoring their first-ever @FIFAWorldCup knockout goal, they went on to defeat Germany on penalties and secure a spot in the Round of 16 👏 pic.twitter.com/4L8MNH5qLt— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 29, 2026 Julio Enciso gave Paraguay a surprise lead late in the first half with the country’s first ever goal in a men’s World Cup knockout match. Germany responded in the 54th minute when Kai Havertz equalised, but neither side could find a winner during the additional 30 minutes. Germany thought they had completed the comeback in extra time when Jonathan Tah found the net. However, the goal was ruled out after a controversial foul on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, a decision that sparked debate among broadcasters and fans alike. Gill and Canale become Paraguay’s heroes The shootout delivered more drama. Paraguay appeared on course to seal victory before veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved their fifth penalty, forcing sudden death. Germany’s Jonathan Tah then blasted his team’s sixth penalty over the crossbar, leaving José Canale with the chance to complete one of Paraguay’s greatest footballing achievements. He calmly converted the decisive kick to send the South American side into the Round of 16. Reuters reported that Gill had already denied penalties from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade before Tah’s miss handed Paraguay the advantage. The defeat also marked Germany’s first ever loss in a World Cup penalty shootout. Speaking after the famous victory, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill said, “It’s difficult to describe in words. It was a very challenging game. We were under attack from all sides but we resisted.” A historic @FIFAWorldCup win as Paraguay become the first-ever team to win a @FIFAWorldCup Round of 32 fixture on penalties! 👏🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/sRfpbj8Qkh— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 30, 2026 Captain Gustavo Gómez praised his teammates’ determination, calling the result a proud moment for the nation after one of the most disciplined defensive displays of the tournament. Germany’s World Cup struggles continue Germany entered the match as clear favourites after topping their group and enjoying more possession throughout the contest. However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side once again failed to convert dominance into victory. The four time world champions have now suffered group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups before crashing out in the first knockout round in 2026. The latest disappointment is expected to increase scrutiny on Nagelsmann and his squad after another underwhelming campaign. Paraguay will face the winner of France versus Sweden in Philadelphia on July 4. By reaching the Round of 16, the South Americans have secured at least $15 million in FIFA prize money, while Germany leave the tournament with $11 million. The match also drew attention off the pitch. Although Boston Stadium fell just 201 spectators short of capacity, the atmosphere remained vibrant throughout. Ticket prices had dropped sharply before kickoff as resale demand softened, while viral German supporter “Freddy” reacted to the disallowed extra time goal with a series of question marks before posting a broken heart emoji after Germany’s elimination.
50K Followers to Millions: How Vozinha’s Life Changes Overnight
Cape Verde’s FIFA World Cup debut delivered one of the tournament’s biggest surprises on Monday as the African nation held former world champions Spain to a remarkable 0-0 draw, thanks largely to an extraordinary performance by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. Spain dominated possession and created 27 shots throughout the Group H encounter in Atlanta. Yet they could not find a way past the 40-year-old goalkeeper, who produced a series of crucial saves to secure a historic point for Cape Verde in its first-ever World Cup appearance. As the final whistle blew, the emotion of the moment overwhelmed the goalkeeper. Vozinha fell to the ground near his goal and broke into tears. “I work all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream,” he said after the match. For Cape Verde, the draw represented far more than a single point. It marked a landmark achievement against one of football’s traditional powerhouses and instantly turned Vozinha into one of the faces of the tournament. A Journey Few Thought Would Reach the World Cup Unlike many World Cup stars who emerge through elite academies, Vozinha’s path to football’s biggest stage was long and uncertain. Born in Cape Verde, he did not make his professional debut until the age of 25 with Angolan club Progresso. His career then took him across Moldova, Cyprus, Slovakia and Portugal’s lower leagues. Spain brought tactics. Cape Verde brought Vozinha pic.twitter.com/RHiMtS3vRZ — Natch (@dammies100) June 16, 2026 Today, he plays for Portuguese club Chaves, far from the spotlight enjoyed by Europe’s biggest stars. He joined Cape Verde’s national team setup in 2012 and admitted in previous years that retirement crossed his mind more than once. However, persistence and determination kept him going. His nickname also reflects his unusual journey. “Vozinha,” which translates to “grandmother” in Portuguese, began as a teasing nickname from older teammates. He later embraced the name himself when sharing a similar name with another player created confusion within the squad. Monday’s performance showed why he never gave up. Spain repeatedly tested the goalkeeper through crosses, long-range efforts and close-range opportunities. Time and again, Vozinha responded with calm saves and confident positioning. Overnight Fame and What Comes Next The result transformed Vozinha into an internet sensation almost instantly. Before kickoff, his Instagram account had roughly 50,000 followers. Within hours of the draw, that figure surged beyond 1.5 million. Reports later indicated the number was rapidly approaching six million as football fans around the world celebrated his performance. The result also leaves Group H wide open. Spain will remain in Atlanta to face Saudi Arabia on June 21 before concluding their group campaign against Uruguay in Mexico. Cape Verde will travel to Miami for a clash with Uruguay on the same day before meeting Saudi Arabia in Houston on June 26. Regardless of what happens next, Vozinha has already written one of the most compelling stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His journey from football obscurity to global recognition serves as a reminder that some of the game’s greatest moments belong not to superstars, but to dreamers who refuse to quit.
