Overview
- Norway were eliminated after a 2-1 extra-time loss to England in Miami on Saturday, ending the Scandinavian side’s deepest World Cup run since 1998.
- A late first-half two-on-one saw Alexander Sørloth shoot instead of passing to an unmarked Erling Haaland, a single decision widely cited as the turning point before Jude Bellingham’s equaliser.
- Norway’s team raised concerns that the ball struck an overhead spidercam cable during the equalising sequence, but FIFA and multiple media outlets reported spidercam footage and ball-sensor data showing no contact.
- In the days after the game Sørloth and his partner, Lena Selnes, reported a surge of abusive messages and threats on social media, with Selnes sharing examples of violent language directed at the family.
- Erling Haaland returned to Norway on Monday as a tournament breakout star with seven goals, sparked viral attention by bringing a taxidermied 'Whiskey Raccoon' from the U.S., and joined roughly 90,000 fans in Oslo for the team’s home reception.