Norway is set to face five-time world champion Brazil in the World Cup round of 16 tonight at 10:00 PM local time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Historically, Norway has never lost to Brazil in four encounters, recording two wins and two draws.
Their most famous victory came in the 1998 World Cup, a 2-1 win.
Former Norwegian player Kjetil Rekdal believes the current squad is different from past teams.
He noted that players now handle pressure well due to their experience in top European leagues.
“The players of today don't think about the Miracle of Marseille. They don't need the ghosts of the past to beat the five-time world champion,” Rekdal said.
He added that the current national team possesses higher quality than his generation, though Brazil remains the favorite.
“They play weekly at the highest level in European competitions (at Manchester City, Arsenal, and RB Leipzig respectively).
Moreover, the Norwegian team now is much better than the Norway I was part of,” Rekdal continued.
Rekdal emphasized that Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti will need to manage Norway's specific offensive strengths.
“But coach Ancelotti and his men will have their hands full with the attacking power of Erling Haaland, the creativity of Martin Ødegaard, and the speed of Antonio Nusa,” Rekdal said.
Haaland vs Gabriel Rivalry
A central feature of the match is the individual matchup between Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland and Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães.
Their intense Premier League rivalry now transfers to the international tournament.
The physical tension between the two players intensified during a club match on September 22, 2024.
Haaland threw a ball at Gabriel following a late equalizer, leading to verbal confrontations with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
“Stay humble, eh,” the strong striker shouted repeatedly toward the Spanish coach, Haaland recalled.
Gabriel retaliated during a subsequent 5-1 victory on February 2, 2025, by celebrating directly in front of Haaland and refusing to shake hands after a foul.
The rivalry renewed in April 2026 during a close title race that involved physical alterations and a near-headbutt on the field.
“If I go down theatrically, he gets a red card, but I don't fall that easily,” Haaland said with a wink after that match, which he ultimately won.
Following that match, Haaland mockingly sang a popular tune to the cameras. Gabriel later used the same reference on social media when his club secured the championship trophy.
“Oooh sometimes, I get a good feeling,” Haaland sang with a meaningful grimace.
Brazil Team News
For the upcoming lineup, Brazil will start forward Raphinha on the bench as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained against Haiti.
Lucas Paquetá remains ruled out with a hamstring strain.
“Raphinha is really progressing,” Ancelotti said.
The manager indicated that the Barcelona forward is capable of contributing selectively during the knockout match despite not being fully fit.
“He is still not 100 percent fit, but he is available from the bench and can play a few minutes or be useful for some moments,” Ancelotti said.
