Norway are through after a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, sealing a Round of 16 date with Brazil. S. Solbakken kept faith with his 4-3-3, Martin Ødegaard feeding Antonio Nusa for the opener in the 39th minute before Erling Haaland settled it late. D. Belmadi mirrored the shape but was left ruing missed pressure despite a late surge.
The first half belonged to Solbakken’s control phase. Patrick Berg and Sander Berge locked midfield, Ødegaard threaded the line-breaking pass and Nusa finished the move in the 39th minute. Norway’s press forced Ivory Coast back, yet discipline wavered with Nusa booked at 45+1' for a foul that handed Belmadi a route into the interval.
Belmadi responded at the restart. The double switch on 60 minutes, Elye Wahi for Ange-Yoan Bonny and Amad Diallo for Christ Inao Oulaï, injected mobility between the lines. Ivory Coast used Nicolas Pépé as the release valve, the winger cutting inside to supply Diallo, who levelled in the 74th minute. The equaliser rewarded Ibrahim Sangaré’s dominance in the second phase and pinned Norway’s full-backs deeper.
Solbakken’s counter was immediate. Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup arrived in the 71st minute to restore width and carry, while Fredrik Aursnes freshened the right flank at 83'. The decisive action came from Berg, who found Haaland’s run in the 86th minute. Haaland converted, killing momentum just as Ivory Coast prepared another wave.
Ivory Coast kept pushing, rotating Nicolas Pépé off for Oumar Diakité in the 87th minute and making two further changes at 90', but Ørjan Nyland’s four saves and Kristoffer Ajer’s clean aerial work closed the door. Norway’s 53 percent possession and 2.02 expected goals spoke to measured control, even as Ivory Coast launched 14 corners without the finishing punch.
Referee Jesús Valenzuela maintained tempo with minimal cards, leaving the tie to hinge on each coach’s adjustments. Diallo’s cameo highlighted Belmadi’s bench options, yet Norway’s clarity in transitions and Haaland’s reliability remain the headline as Brazil await in the Round of 16. Expect Solbakken to keep the same structural base, with Bobb and Schjelderup now pushing for larger roles. Ivory Coast depart wondering how to convert territorial waves into knockout resilience.
Match stats
- Possession: Ivory Coast 47 percent, Norway 53 percent
- Shots: Ivory Coast 14, Norway 9
- On target: Ivory Coast 5, Norway 4
- Expected goals: Ivory Coast 1.36, Norway 2.02
- Corners: Ivory Coast 14, Norway 3
- Saves: Yahia Fofana 1, Ørjan Nyland 4
