Haaland: Norway's World Cup Chances 'Really Low' vs England
Erling Haaland downplayed Norway's title hopes and turned the spotlight on England hours before the two sides meet in a historic World Cup quarterfinal in Miami.
Haaland's Mind Games Before the Miami Showdown
Erling Haaland is not letting Norway's fairy-tale World Cup run change his messaging. Asked directly in the pre-match press conference to rate his country's chances of winning the tournament outright, the Manchester City striker gave a blunt answer: "Really low, still." He then pivoted the conversation squarely onto Saturday's opponent, adding, according to reports from the press session, "I think there's some clear favourites out there, England's one of them. I think all of you [reporters] should put every single pressure on the English lads."
It is a tactic Haaland has used repeatedly throughout the tournament — publicly underselling Norway while nudging attention, and pressure, toward whoever stands across the pitch from him next. Reporters covering the Norwegian camp noted he used a nearly identical line before Norway's group-stage finale against France, and he has stuck to the same script through two knockout rounds. Whether it is genuine humility or a calculated mind game aimed at a heavily-favored England side, the comments have dominated the build-up to the quarterfinal.
Norway's Historic Run to the Last Eight
Whatever Haaland says publicly, Norway's results have made a mockery of "underdog" status. Playing in their first World Cup since 1998 and their first-ever quarterfinal appearance, Ståle Solbakken's side beat Côte d'Ivoire in the round of 32 before producing the upset of the tournament so far: a 2-1 win over five-time champions Brazil in the round of 16, with Haaland scoring both Norwegian goals in a man-of-the-match display. That victory ended Brazil's run and, reportedly, marked the final World Cup appearance for several veteran Brazilian players.
Haaland's tournament has been extraordinary on a personal level even as he insists the team's ceiling is limited. His seven goals through five appearances put him firmly in the conversation for the Golden Boot, trailing only Messi and Mbappé on the all-time scorers' list for this edition. Solbakken has been just as direct as his star forward about where the game will likely be decided, saying ahead of kickoff that "Kane is the match winner number one for England and Haaland is the match winner number one for us."
England's Path — and a Defense Under Scrutiny
England arrive in Miami having topped their group before eliminating DR Congo and Mexico in the knockout rounds, with captain Harry Kane scoring the decisive goals in both fixtures. Manager Thomas Tuchel has been candid about the work still ahead, saying after the win in Mexico, "We still can do better," while praising the squad's resilience: "In terms of what is lovable about the team as a fan is the heart that they bring and the sense of belief — it's one of a kind."
That heart has been necessary because England's defense has been shakier than their attacking reputation. The team has kept only two clean sheets in five matches so far, a modest return for a nation many pundits still list among the tournament favorites. With Haaland in red-hot form and Solbakken's Norway building an entire game plan around service to their captain, Tuchel's back line faces its sternest test of the tournament to date. English media covering the buildup have already floated warnings that Haaland is capable of delivering, in the words of one report, "one hell of a beating" if England's back four is caught out of position.
Norwegian players have not stayed quiet on the mind games either, and England's players have reportedly pushed back on the psychological maneuvering in the days before kickoff, insisting the pressure talk changes nothing about their preparation.
Match Preview: Hard Rock Stadium, Saturday, July 11
Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. ET (21:00 UTC) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, in what will be just the fourth all-time World Cup meeting between the two nations. History strongly favors England, who hold seven wins from twelve overall meetings against Norway, with only two defeats and three draws. Miami's heat and humidity late in the afternoon could be a factor as the match wears on, potentially working in favor of a Norwegian side built on directness and quick transitions rather than prolonged possession.
For a recap of everything else that happened around the tournament the day before this quarterfinal, see our Day 30 results recap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asked to rate Norway's chances of winning the World Cup, Haaland said "Really low, still," before adding that England are "clear favourites" and urging reporters to put "every single pressure" on the English squad instead.
The quarterfinal kicks off Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET (21:00 UTC) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Norway beat Côte d'Ivoire in the round of 32, then stunned five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals. It is Norway's first World Cup quarterfinal since 1998.
Haaland has scored seven goals in five matches, placing him third in the Golden Boot standings behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.