Haaland and the Ghost of ’98: Can Norway Shock Brazil Again in 2026?
Twenty-eight years after Norway stunned Brazil at the 1998 World Cup, the Scandinavians face another chance to pull off a miracle in 2026. Erling Haaland carries the weight of a nation eager to repeat that historic upset in New Jersey. Here are three reasons Brazil could be in for their toughest test yet: 1. Norway’s coach Ståle Solbakken was part of the team that beat Brazil in 1998. That memory still fuels belief, not nostalgia. 2. The tournament’s two top scorers, Haaland and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, could decide the outcome with moments of individual brilliance. 3. Tactics will matter. Norway will sit deep and hit on the break, while Brazil will rely on structure and patience to unlock a disciplined defense. Brazil may be favourites on paper, but past upsets prove World Cups are won on the pitch.
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