The biggest shock of the 2026 World Cup arrived on July 5, when Norway — a nation that had never previously made a deep run at a major tournament — knocked out Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16, thanks to a stunning late double from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Brazil, the tournament’s most decorated nation with five World Cup titles, had a chance to level proceedings from the penalty spot, but midfielder Bruno Guimarães — who had taken only three penalties in his entire career before the match — was denied by Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.
Norway’s head coach Ståle Solbakken later admitted the match “could have gone either way” and revealed his tactical plan to exploit Brazil’s vulnerabilities. The result sent shockwaves through Brazilian football, with fans at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana lamenting what they called a premature and humiliating exit. Social media erupted with calls for apologies to various overlooked players.
The celebration, however, belonged to Norway. After the final whistle, Haaland seized a pair of drumsticks and led the now-iconic “Viking Row” — a synchronized celebration where thousands of Norwegian fans, seated shoulder to shoulder, mime rowing a longship while chanting “Row!” to an accelerating drumbeat. The stadium shook.
