Jude Bellingham has pulled England level with Norway at 1-1 in a pulsating FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final in Miami, with the teams heading into the break locked together after a breathless opening 45 minutes that featured a stunning Norwegian opener, a composed equaliser and a Harry Kane goal that was immediately ruled out for offside.
The match, played in sweltering Miami heat, represents one of the most high-stakes encounters of the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, with England and Norway battling to become only the third side to reach the semi-finals of this tournament.
Schjelderup stuns England with a brilliant opener
Norway drew first blood in the 36th minute through Andreas Schjelderup, and it was a goal that came somewhat against the run of play. The move began when Sander Berge dispossessed Kane near the centre circle — moments after Kane had gone to ground appealing for a foul — and Norway broke rapidly. Schjelderup drove down the left flank and unleashed a curling delivery that bent around Jordan Pickford, bounced off the inside of the far post, and nestled into the net. Pickford, caught in no-man's land, could not get there in time.
The goal energised the Norwegian side, who had already been creating danger through the combination of Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth. In the minutes before the opener, Stones had given the ball away dangerously inside his own area, with the ball breaking to Haaland — though Pickford managed to collect on that occasion.
Norway's confidence visibly grew after the goal. Sørloth fired a hard shot over the crossbar, and Martin Ødegaard also tested England with an effort from outside the box, though Pickford gathered it. Norway were piling on the pressure, registering five shots — three on target — compared to England's solitary effort.
Bellingham delivers again — then Kane's goal is chalked off
Just as Norway appeared to be growing into the game and threatening a second, England struck back in extraordinary fashion deep into first-half stoppage time. Anthony Gordon delivered the cross from the right, and Bellingham arrived in the box with composure, taking a couple of touches before turning and shooting across goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland and into the far corner.
The equaliser sparked jubilant scenes inside the stadium, with chants of "Juuuude" ringing out across the stands. Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken responded by hurling his water bottle across his technical area, while England manager Thomas Tuchel appeared to calm slightly after the tension of the conceded goal.
It was another demonstration of Bellingham's extraordinary tournament form. The midfielder has been one of the standout performers across the competition, continuing the dominance he showed at the previous World Cup.
Drama continued right up to the half-time whistle when Kane appeared to add a second for England — chipping the ball over Nyland and into the net — only for the effort to be disallowed for offside. Kane had also attempted a long-range strike in the same passage of play, which Nyland claimed comfortably.
England's possession without penetration — and Norway's danger on the break
For much of the opening period, England had controlled the ball without truly threatening Nyland's goal. The warm Miami conditions appeared to be contributing to a slow tempo, with Norway content to allow England possession while looking to hurt them on the counter-attack through the pace and physicality of Haaland and Sørloth.
England's best moment before the goals came around the 23rd minute, when a neat exchange on the right produced a cross that ultimately eluded everyone before Norway cleared. Declan Rice's delivery from set-pieces was below par — corners and free kicks were comfortably dealt with by the Norwegian defence on multiple occasions.
Norway's Haaland — who lit up their path to this stage of the tournament — remained a constant threat. Earlier in the half, he had space to run at England but cut inside and saw his shot blocked, with Pickford collecting. The fear of what he and Sørloth could do in combination was ever-present, and a moment where the pair outnumbered Stones almost led to a second Norwegian goal, only for Sørloth to misplace his pass to Haaland at the critical moment.
What's next: second half to decide who reaches the semi-finals
With the score level at 1-1 after 45 minutes, the second half promises to be equally dramatic. Haaland's late heroics earlier in the tournament sent Norway into this quarter-final, and he will be determined to add to that legacy. England, meanwhile, will be buoyed by Bellingham's composure and Kane's growing involvement, even if the captain's late effort was ruled out.
Later on Sunday, the final quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup takes place in Kansas City, where Lionel Messi's Argentina — who produced a stunning comeback against Egypt — face Switzerland. But for now, all eyes remain on Miami, where 45 minutes of football will determine which nation joins the last four of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
