Erling Haaland fires Norway into last 16 with dramatic winner against Côte d’Ivoire
Norway advanced to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup after Erling Haaland scored a late winner against Côte d’Ivoire. The victory validated coach Ståle Solbakken's controversial decision to rest key players in the previous group stage match.
Why it matters
The result marks a significant milestone for Norway's national team and highlights the strategic risks taken by managers in high-stakes tournament football.
Erling Haaland is congratulated by teammates after scoring Norway’s late winner. Erling Haaland is congratulated by teammates after scoring Norway’s late winner. World Cup 2026 Erling Haaland fires Norway into last 16 with dramatic winner against Côte d’Ivoire Jonathan Wilson at Dallas Stadium Tue 30 Jun 2026 15.05 EDT Last modified on Wed 1 Jul 2026 00.15 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Decision vindicated. The Norway coach, Ståle Solbakken, had taken a major gamble in resting almost his entire side in the final group game against France, drawing stiff criticism, not least from those who had paid hundreds of dollars to witness a showdown between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. As Solbakken said, the decision would stand or fall on the result of this game.
The article objectively covers the match outcome and the tactical decisions of the coach.
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