Erling Haaland struck four minutes from time to send Norway into the World Cup round of 16 for the first time in their history, edging out a spirited Ivory Coast side 2-1 in a breathless Round of 32 tie at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Antonio Nusa put Norway ahead in the 39th minute with a curling effort into the far corner, only for Amad Diallo to level things in the 74th minute after coming off the bench, slicing through the Norwegian defence and finishing left-footed past Orjan Nyland. It looked set to go to extra time before Haaland, quiet for much of the evening, arrived at the back post to convert Patrick Bergs cross with a single touch and seal one of the landmark results in Norwegian football history.Norway manager Stale Solbakken was candid about the nature of the victory in the aftermath, acknowledging that Ivory Coast had made his side work for every moment of it.Its a kind of suffering you probably cant get anywhere else, a feeling that you simply cant get from any other match, he said.We played against a fantastic team who have some absolute monsters, physically, who got the better of us in the duels at times.The match swung back and forth, it looked like it could go either way. I think we had one or two more chances than they had so all in all, it was a deserved win. But I feel for their coach, the margins were slim. Its hard to put into words what it means.Table of ContentsDiallos moment of magic not enoughWe can only learn from this tournamentDiallos moment of magic not enoughIvory Coast had their moments throughout and pushed Norway back significantly in the second half, with the Diallo equaliser briefly threatening to turn the match in their favour. The Manchester United winger, introduced at the hour mark, showed exactly the quality Ivory Coast had hoped to see more of across the tournament before Haaland extinguished their hopes at the other end.Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae was measured but clearly frustrated in his post-match assessment, pointing to the fine margins that separate success from elimination at this level.Thats football. When you get chances, you have to score. We did the hard part by equalising. Unfortunately, we conceded that goal at the end. Its a shame, he said.The players gave it their all and played until the very end. We were up against a spirited team that defended well and managed to secure qualification. At this level, it comes down to the little details. You have to stay focused from start to finish, no matter the opponent.It was everyones first World Cup. I think the players have learned a lot. Now, well work on coming back stronger for the next challenges.3EW6JF0 Ivory Coasts Nicolas Pepe (19) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)We can only learn from this tournamentThe sentiment was shared by Diallo, who became the latest in a line of opponents to score against Norway before watching Haaland decide the tie. The 23-year-old was reflective about what this tournament means for the generation of Ivory Coast players who experienced a World Cup knockout stage for the first time.Were disappointed by the loss because we know we have a lot of great players who can make a difference at any moment in the game, he said.We were playing against a team with outstanding players, but we conceded a goal toward the end of the match, and were sorry to be eliminated this way.But we can only learn from this tournament, because for many of us, it was our first World Cup. Topics Erling Haaland Norway National Football Team Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast: Haaland strikes late on to propel his side into World Cup round of 16 and a meeting with Brazil Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 LIVE Ivory Coast v Norway: Commentary, updates, goals and stats Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 World Cup 2026 live: Ivory Coast vs Norway confirmed teams and full line ups as Erling Haaland returns, TV channel, live online stream and stats Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 WATCH: Nusa stunner gives Norway the lead in round-of-32 clash with Ivory Coast Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 Ivory Coast v Norway: Predicted line-ups, where to watch, stats and preview for last-32 clash Mitch Fretton 30th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Last 32 ties confirmed as group stage ends Tom Rostance 28th June, 2026
