Jude Bellingham's second consecutive brace propelled England into the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals after a hard-fought quarterfinal victory over Norway. The star midfielder found the net twice, with his second goal in extra time proving to be the decisive moment in a dramatic match.
Match Summary
The quarterfinal clash saw a tight contest from the outset, with neither team establishing early dominance. Norway opened the scoring in the 46th minute with a well-taken goal by Andreas Schjelderup. However, England quickly responded in first-half stoppage time, with Bellingham leveling the score. England thought they had taken the lead just before halftime when Harry Kane's effort was ruled offside.
Second Half and Extra Time
The second half featured several scoring opportunities for both sides. England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made key saves, and Norway had goals disallowed due to fouls and offsides. Norway also came close to retaking the lead from set pieces, hitting the crossbar on one occasion.
With the score tied at the end of regulation, the match went into extra time. Bellingham struck again in the 93rd minute, securing England's first lead of the game and ultimately the victory. England will now advance to face the winner of the match between Argentina and Switzerland in the semifinals, continuing their pursuit of a World Cup title last won in 1966.
