July 12, (THEWILL) — England booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Jude Bellingham scored twice, including a dramatic extra-time winner, to inspire a 2-1 comeback victory over Norway in Miami on Saturday.
The Three Lions were forced to dig deep after falling behind to a spirited Norwegian side, but Bellingham’s heroics ensured Thomas Tuchel’s men kept alive their dream of winning a first World Cup title since 1966.
Norway, appearing in their first-ever World Cup quarter-final after stunning five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 16, made the brighter start and were rewarded in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup finished off a sustained spell of pressure to hand the Scandinavians a deserved lead.
With halftime approaching, England found a lifeline. Bellingham struck in first-half stoppage time to restore parity, ensuring both teams went into the break level after an entertaining opening 45 minutes.
The second half developed into a tense and closely fought contest. Norway continued to threaten, while England struggled to create clear-cut opportunities despite enjoying more of the ball. Neither side could find a decisive breakthrough, sending the final quarter-final tie into extra time.
England thought they had taken the lead shortly after the restart of extra time, only for the effort to be ruled out following a review.
As the match wore on and fatigue began to affect both teams, England’s persistence finally paid off. Bellingham produced the decisive moment in the 93rd minute, completing his brace to put the Three Lions ahead for the first time in the contest.
Norway pushed forward in search of an equaliser but England’s defence stood firm to preserve the lead and secure passage to the last four.
England finished with a slight statistical advantage, enjoying 53 percent possession while registering 14 shots, eight of them on target. Norway, despite earning seven corners and creating several dangerous moments, were unable to find a second goal that would have extended their remarkable World Cup journey.
The victory sends England into the semi-finals, where they will face either Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta, as they continue their pursuit of a first World Cup triumph in six decades.
For Norway, the defeat brings an end to a memorable campaign that included a famous victory over Brazil and the nation’s best-ever performance at a FIFA World Cup.
