When the game seemed condemned to extra time, the usual one appeared. Erling Haaland, in almost his only clear intervention of the match, scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute to give Norway a hard-fought victory over Ivory Coast and seal their qualification to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Brazil.
The Manchester City forward once again demonstrated his scoring instinct. He had gone practically unnoticed throughout the game, well controlled by the Ivorian defense, but a precise pass from Patrick Berg was enough for the “9” to push the ball into the net and define the match.
The duel between Europeans and Africans left a great match with a lot of fighting on the playing field where Norway tried to control the ball in the first half, as coach Ståle Solbakken proposed, but he never managed to connect with Haaland, trapped by the rival brand.
Ivory Coast, for its part, showed greater dynamism in attack. With Franck Kessié as a reference in the midfield and Yan Diomandé on the left wing, constantly generated danger, although he lacked forcefulness in front of goal.
Norway opened the scoring in the 39th minute thanks to Antonio Nusa, who scored a goal with an outstanding individual action. However, the African team reacted in the second half with another great finish, this time from Amad Diallo in the 75th minute, to tie the match with a cross shot. Everything indicated that the game would be decided in extra time, until Haaland appeared.
The celebration of the “oar”, a symbol of Viking identity
Beyond the triumph, Norway’s collective celebration once again attracted attention. After the final whistle, the players gathered in front of their fans and made the now characteristic gesture of “rowing”, a synchronized choreography in which they simulate rowing together, as if they were sharing the same boat.
The celebration has become the hallmark of the Nordic team and symbolizes unity, collective effort and a shared goal. Each player moves his arms at the same rhythm, as a sign that success depends on the work of the group and not only on individuals. The image showed a united team in front of their fans, rowing in unison after securing a place in the next round.
A celebration that distinguishes the tournament
“Norwegian rowing” has become one of the most recognizable celebrations of the 2026 World Cup. Its simplicity and meaning have caught the attention of fans around the world. The celebration reflects the identity of the team, its discipline and trust in collective work.
NORWEGIAN AURA! 🇳🇴❤️
Norway fans and players celebrated together with the iconic rowing celebration, after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 and sealing their place in the next round.
A postcard full of emotion, unity and passion for football. pic.twitter.com/lJR15mdUDf
— Diario de Morelos (@DiariodeMorelos) June 30, 2026
With qualification assured, Norway will now face a greater challenge. They will face Brazil in the round of 16, a match in which Haaland’s tactical discipline and forcefulness will be decisive.
