Erling Haaland’s 89th-minute winner against Ivory Coast did more than secure a 2-1 victory; it delivered Norway’s first triumph in a World Cup knockout match and ended a 28-year wait for a place in the last 16. The Manchester City forward, who has now scored in 13 consecutive competitive internationals, rose to meet a late cross and powered a header past the Ivorian goalkeeper, igniting celebrations among the travelling Norwegian support at MetLife Stadium. That moment, viewed from Oslo as the culmination of a generation’s rebuilding project, has earned Stale Solbakken’s side a shot at Brazil and the chance to replicate their famous 2-1 group-stage win over the Selecao in 1998.

Norway approach the contest carrying a peculiar historical edge: they have never lost to Brazil in four meetings, with two wins and two draws. Solbakken, a midfielder in that 1998 side, acknowledged the weight of the occasion but framed it with characteristic Nordic understatement. “Brazil are favourites, of course they are, but we are not playing for fun – we are playing to win and to reach the quarter-finals,” he said. European analysts note that Norway’s attacking output in qualifying – 37 goals, the best in their group, including two wins over Italy – suggests a team no longer reliant solely on Haaland, though the striker’s 60 goals in 53 international appearances make him the focal point. Captain Martin Odegaard, with three assists already at this tournament, is the creative hub tasked with supplying the 25-year-old.

Brazilian media, meanwhile, have trained their focus on Vinicius Junior, whose four goals in the group stage made him the first Brazilian since Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002 to score in all three opening matches. The Real Madrid winger’s direct running and close control have been central to Carlo Ancelotti’s attacking plan, and his duel with a Norwegian defence that has yet to keep a clean sheet at the tournament is seen in Rio de Janeiro as the key battleground. Brazilian outlets have also highlighted the vulnerability of Norway’s centre-back pairing of Kristoffer Ajer and Tobjorn Heggem, whose lack of pace was exposed by Ivory Coast’s wide players. Ancelotti, described by forward Gabriel Martinelli as “a surreal guy” for his calming half-time team talk during the comeback win over Japan, has reportedly dedicated part of Brazil’s training to countering Norway’s aerial threat.

Injury news shapes the tactical picture. Brazil will be without midfielder Lucas Paqueta due to a hamstring problem, though winger Raphinha returned to training on Friday after a thigh injury and could feature. Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, who spent three seasons in La Liga with Sevilla, pointed to his side’s qualifying campaign as proof they “can stop anyone”, but the defensive record – four goals conceded in four matches, including four against France – remains a concern. Matheus Cunha, likely to lead the line for Brazil, warned against fixating on Haaland, noting Norway’s collective physical strength.

The winner will advance to a quarter-final, a stage Brazil have not reached since 2002 when they last lifted the trophy. For Norway, it would be uncharted territory. The match kicks off at 17:00 local time in East Rutherford, with the victor facing the winner of the tie between Colombia and Ghana.