Jude Bellingham delivered a match-winning performance as England staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Norway 3–2 after extra time, booking their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a thrilling knockout encounter.
The midfielder scored twice, including the decisive goal in extra time, to inspire England to victory after a fiercely contested match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Bellingham sealed England’s place in the last four by reacting quickest inside the penalty area after Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland failed to hold onto a powerful effort from substitute Morgan Rogers. The loose ball fell kindly to the England star, who calmly converted from close range to complete the comeback and bring an end to Norway’s remarkable World Cup journey.
The match produced several dramatic moments, with both sides creating numerous scoring opportunities. Norway appeared to have restored their advantage just before the hour mark when defender Torbjørn Heggem found the back of the net from a corner. However, following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the goal was disallowed after officials ruled that Erling Haaland had fouled Elliot Anderson during the build-up, denying the Scandinavian side what could have been a crucial breakthrough.
Despite taking the lead into extra time, England were forced to withstand sustained pressure from a determined Norwegian side that refused to give up. Kristoffer Ajer came agonisingly close to equalising when his powerful header struck the crossbar, while Djed Spence nearly punished another error by Nyland after the goalkeeper’s poor clearance almost gifted England another goal.
England’s resilience and clinical finishing ultimately proved decisive as they held on to secure a memorable victory and progress to the semi-finals, keeping alive their hopes of lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy.
For Norway, the defeat marked the end of an impressive tournament campaign in which they exceeded expectations and challenged one of football’s traditional powerhouses. Despite the disappointment, their performances throughout the competition earned widespread praise and signalled continued progress on the international stage.
