FIFA World Cup: England in semis as Bellingham’s double sinks Norway amid VAR fury
England defeated Norway 2-1 in extra time to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, led by a brace from Jude Bellingham. The match was marked by significant controversy regarding a missed officiating call and a disallowed goal for Norway.
Why it matters
The match highlights the ongoing debate surrounding VAR and officiating standards in high-stakes international football tournaments.
A legendary performance from Jude Bellingham has fired England into the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a breathless 2-1 extra-time triumph over Norway at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.On a night filled with high drama, bizarre technical controversies, and intense tactical battles, Bellingham proved to be the ultimate difference-maker. The Real Madrid superstar struck in the third minute of extra time, pouncing on a rebound after Orjan Nyland failed to clean up a venomous Morgan Rogers shot. The strike marked Bellingham’s sixth goal of the tournament, tying him with teammate Harry Kane and placing him just two behind frontrunners Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.Norway, whose historic quarter-final run and charismatic "Viking row" celebrations had taken the internet by storm, struck first.
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