Brazil crash out as Haaland brace sends Norway through, England edge Mexico at Azteca

Brazil's 2026 World Cup run ended on July 5 when Norway beat the five-time champions 2-1, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals to join Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé on seven tournament strikes. The result sent shockwaves through a tournament that had already lost one of its biggest attractions.

On CVM's Fan Central Extra Time, host Orvin Higgins was joined by Mount Pleasant assistant coach Dave Ferguson and former Trinidad and Tobago international Brent Sancho, who also served as that country's sport minister and appeared at the 2006 World Cup. Ferguson called the outcome disappointing but not shocking, noting Brazil had looked off form throughout the competition. Sancho said Norway were deserving winners who controlled the second half and punished a Brazilian side that never fixed problems in midfield dating back to qualifying.

Analysts pointed to Brazil's 34% possession — described on the panel as their lowest at a World Cup — as evidence of a missing midfield anchor without Lucas Paquetá. Norway leaned on Martin Ødegaard, Sander Berge and Haaland to manage tempo, while Brazil's approach was more vertical and less aggressive without the ball. Ferguson praised Norway for playing bravely, keeping the ball, and making half-time changes that brought width and greater control.

Brazil created openings but failed to convert. A missed penalty drew heavy scrutiny after Carlo Ancelotti — Brazil's first non-Brazilian World Cup coach — said Vinícius Júnior ranked only fifth among penalty takers on the pitch by training data. Ferguson noted Vinícius's roughly 68% career conversion rate but argued a team's leading scorer should step up, as Messi, Mbappé, Ronaldo and Haaland do for their nations. Sancho found it strange that Brazil's marquee forward did not take the kick. Substitute Endrick also spurned a clear chance within seconds of coming on.

Broader context framed the loss: Brazil finished fifth in South American qualifying, have not reached a World Cup final since 2002, and were knocked out at the round of 16 for the first time since 1990. They had never beaten Norway in four previous meetings. Panelists split on whether Ancelotti survives, with Ferguson and Sancho leaning yes given squad limitations, while a caller argued the European appointment failed its brief.

The show also touched on reports that United States forward Folarin Balogun's red card against Bosnia was withdrawn after an appeal linked to President Donald Trump, raising questions about fairness and precedent after England's Marc Guéhi received a red card in his fixture.

England advanced with a 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, where the hosts had lost only twice in roughly 80 home matches. The Three Lions played much of the match with ten men after Marc Guéhi's dismissal, with Thomas Tuchel removing Bukayo Saka to shore up the defence. Jude Bellingham drew praise as a match-winner, and Brent Sancho said quick English goals deflated a Mexican side that had started strongly in difficult altitude conditions. Norway now meet England in the quarter-finals.