Every morning, it feels impossible to imagine this World Cup topping itself.
But by evening, it somehow does.
Sunday brought the tournament’s biggest upset yet, with Norway sending Brazil home before the quarterfinals for the first time since 1990. It was the kind of result that immediately reshapes the bracket, but also asks bigger questions: how does a team like Brazil, with so much talent and history, feel so far from its old identity?
Then came England and Mexico, a match that felt less like the Round of 16 and more like a 90-minute stress test. Goals, cards, penalties, a roaring stadium, and two teams who refused to blink. It was chaotic, emotional and wildly entertaining — but also revealing. The deeper this tournament goes, the more it exposes who can stay composed when everything starts to unravel.
At this stage of the World Cup, reputation only gets you to kickoff. Everything after that has to be earned.
Here are the takeaways from Sunday’s Round of 16 action.
Nobody knocks Brazil out of the World Cup by accident.
While it was a strong team victory, the highlights belong to Erling Haaland. For nearly 80 minutes, the Manchester City striker was mostly a spectator, isolated and starved of service. Then, in the space of 11 minutes, the 25-year-old reminded everyone why the world’s best goalscorers only need one chance. Or, in Haaland’s case, two.
But this upset was built long before Haaland headed home Norway’s opener. For long stretches, Carlo Ancelotti’s side willingly surrendered control, sat deeper than expected and waited for counter-attacks. Brazil spent the night reacting instead of dictating, and for five-time champions, it was a strangely passive tactic.
Meanwhile, Norway never confused patience with inaction. They controlled possession without becoming reckless, closed Brazil’s transitions, and trusted that eventually Haaland would get his opportunity. When halftime substitutes Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup injected fresh energy down the flanks, the game further tilted in Norway’s favour. Schjelderup’s perfectly weighted cross for Haaland’s opener was immediate proof that the tactical adjustment worked.
But before Haaland wrote the headlines, Ørjan Nyland stole the show.
The Norway goalkeeper denied Bruno Guimarães from the penalty spot, produced a string of outstanding close-range saves in the second half, and somehow clawed away a shocking late deflection to prevent an own goal. Without him, Haaland wouldn’t have gotten the chance to become the hero.
Until now, Brazil’s tournament had been fuelled by moments of individual brilliance. Against Norway, there were too few of them. Their midfield was repeatedly bypassed, Ancelotti’s substitutions failed to pack a punch, and for the first time since 1990, Brazil won’t be playing in a World Cup quarterfinal.
In Sportsnet’s pre-tournament roundtable, I picked Ancelotti’s Brazil as the team most likely to disappoint. That wasn’t because of a lack of talent — Brazil still has plenty of it. But the free-flowing identity that defined their 2002 triumph feels increasingly distant, replaced by tactical rigidity and a disconnect between Europe-based stars and domestic options. Ancelotti’s appointment in 2025 was never going to be a quick fix, and this exit only raises bigger questions about what comes next.
I also had Norway as my surprise team of the tournament, but even that prediction undersold this victory. Ståle Solbakken’s side isn’t just a Cinderella story, but a quarterfinalist riding a historic moment with structure, belief, and swagger.
Estadio Azteca or the circus?
England didn’t just beat Mexico. They passed what felt like a World Cup test.
Could they silence more than 80,000 fans inside the Estadio Azteca? Yes. Could they deal with changes in altitude, humidity, and temperature? Yes. Could they survive with 10 men for just about half the match? Somehow, yes. If Thomas Tuchel wanted proof his side can adapt to any occasion, Sunday delivered it.
For long stretches, the Three Lions looked energized. Jude Bellingham’s two quick goals punished Mexico on devastating counter-attacks, while Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane continually found space behind an aggressive Mexican back line. Even when England’s high press was occasionally bypassed, they never lost their nerve. It was a performance built on resilience.
Jordan Pickford produced one outstanding save after another, claiming crosses and punching clearances under relentless pressure. John Stones, introduced after the half, helped stabilize a defence that spent much of the final half hour under siege. Even Kane’s penalty, followed almost immediately by conceding one at the other end, perfectly captured the evening’s chaos.
However, Mexico deserves plenty of credit. After England’s blistering start, El Tri wrestled back momentum, feeding off an electric home crowd to pin England deeper with waves of attacks. Jarell Quansah’s red card only tilted the balance further, forcing England to abandon control and focus purely on survival. At times, it felt like Mexico’s equalizer was coming.
But, when the final whistle blew, it didn’t matter who scored or who didn’t. What did matter was Tuchel’s men did something no one had done before. They won a World Cup match at the Estadio Azteca against Mexico. If England can get through that, they’ll believe they can conquer anything this tournament throws at them.
As epic World Cup matches go, this one sits comfortably near the top. It had classy goals, penalties, a red card, and momentum swings that felt impossible to predict. It was an atmosphere worthy of a final.
It’s unfortunate one team had to go home.
Norway’s now-iconic Viking row is quickly becoming one of the defining images of this World Cup. After stunning Brazil on Sunday, the players and fans once again rowed together in celebration.
With two goals against Brazil, Haaland joined Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé on seven goals, making this the first World Cup ever with three players reaching that mark in the same tournament.
Sunday’s loss was the final chapter of Neymar’s international career. The Brazilian superstar retires as his country’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals, topping Pelé’s tally by three.
1. Ørjan Nyland (Norway): Norway’s supersonic victory didn’t happen without Nyland. The 35-year-old produced the performance of his career, swatting away Brazilian pressure with a string of brilliant close-range saves. After denying Guimarães from the spot, he became the first goalkeeper in 40 years to save a Brazilian penalty at a World Cup (excluding shootouts).
2. Erling Haaland (Norway): The mark of a great striker isn’t how often they touch the ball, but what they do when they finally get it. Haaland was quiet for much of Sunday’s match before scoring twice in the final moments. The brace also extended his remarkable international scoring streak to 14 consecutive matches.
3. Jude Bellingham (England): Bellingham’s two goals in 98 seconds were enough to help send England through. But the 23-year-old also produced a defensive performance, with an important goal-saving clearance just before halftime. The Real Madrid star became the first player to score twice in a World Cup match at the Estadio Azteca since Diego Maradona in 1986.