Brazil were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16 after a 2-1 defeat to Norway at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, undone by two late goals from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker struck in the 79th and 90th minutes to overturn a match that had been goalless for over an hour, despite a first-half penalty miss by Brazil’s Bruno Guimarães. Neymar converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, but it proved only a consolation as the five-time champions departed the tournament at the earliest knockout stage since 1990.

The contest pivoted on a 14th-minute penalty awarded to Brazil after Matheus Cunha was fouled by Kristoffer Ajer. Guimarães, designated as the taker by a pre-match statistical analysis that ranked Neymar and Raphinha ahead of him but neither was on the pitch, saw his low effort saved by goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. Brazil controlled long spells and created chances — Vinícius Júnior forced another sharp save from Nyland before half-time, and substitute Endrick dragged a clear opportunity wide early in the second half — yet they could not translate possession into a lead. Norway, ceding the ball deliberately, finished with 66% possession and nearly double the number of passes, waiting for the moment to release Haaland, who delivered with a clinical late double.

The result extends Brazil’s World Cup drought: by 2030 they will have gone 28 years without a title, matching the gap between 1930 and 1958. It is their worst campaign since a last-16 loss to Argentina in 1990, and they remain winless in five meetings with Norway. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who signed a contract extension through 2030 before the tournament, described the defeat as “the start of a new cycle” and said the pain must be used as “fuel” for the future. He pointed to a need to refresh the midfield with young talent, while Neymar, according to reports, indicated he would retire from international football after the elimination. Vinícius Júnior defended the penalty decision, stating he “never shirked responsibility” and that the choice was made before kick-off.

Norway advance to a quarter-final in Miami against the winner of the tie between Mexico and England. For Brazil, the immediate focus shifts to a scheduled pair of friendlies in Australia in September, as Ancelotti begins the task of reconstructing a side that, in his own words, “did not have a spectacular World Cup but had a good one” and now must digest a painful early exit.