Preview: Brazil vs Norway | Latest news, line-ups, absences (05/07/2026)
Preview, team news, head to head, probable line ups and where to watch Brazil vs Norway at the 2026 World Cup
Brazil take on Norway in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 on Sunday 5 July at 21:00 BST at MetLife Stadium in the United States. This highly anticipated match pitches together the old masters and the dark horses of the World Cup.
For all the weight of their history, Brazil are always a formidable presence at a World Cup and yet this year they have been somewhat underwhelming. In the Round of 32 they came from behind and snuck a late winner against a Japan side who dominated large spells of the game but couldn’t see it out.
Norway’s credentials took a hit in the group stage with a heavy loss to France, but they have won all their other games and in Erling Haaland have a talisman to rival any other. It was he who scored the late winner against a similarly-ranked Ivory Coast team in the Round of 32.
Latest news: absences, form, team news
Brazil will have had an extra day’s rest before this Round of 16 clash, would could prove vital at this stage in the tournament. This Brazil team don’t control games from start to finish but they can still provide devastating moments of quality when needed.
Norway meanwhile come into the game on a wave of momentum and optimism, with the France defeat firmly in the past. With five goals, Haaland is one of the leading scorers at the World Cup and has one more than Brazil’s top scorer Vinicius Jr.
Brazil
Carlo Ancelotti will hope Raphinha will be available again after missing the Japan game, while he will be sweating on the fitness of Casemiro and Lucas Paquetá who both had to come off in that fixture.
Losing both those midfielders would be a huge blow to a Brazil side that isn’t blessed with the quality of previous iterations, with notable exceptions. Neymar remained on the bench in the last round after making his first appearance of the tournament against Scotland, so it will be interesting to see whether Ancelotti calls on him on Sunday.
Norway
Norway are expected to be without Julian Ryerson with a thigh injury, but Ståle Solbakken shouldn’t have any other major worries. Getting service to Haaland will be key, so Norway could take advantage of Brazil’s midfield issues to dominate the middle of the park.
Teams H2H: head-to-head stats
Brazil and Norway’s only previous competitive meeting came in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup. Norway drew with Morocco and Scotland, but beat Brazil to advance to the knockout stages.
Previous meetings:
- 16/08/2006: Norway 1–1 Brazil (Friendly)
- 23/06/1998: Brazil 1–2 Norway (World Cup 1998)
- 30/05/1997: Norway 4–2 Brazil (Friendly)
- 28/07/1988: Norway 1–1 Brazil (Friendly)
Predicted line-ups
As Brazil seek a first ever win over Norway, Ancelotti will be hoping some of his key players can make it. If fit, expect an unchanged team, with possibly Raphinha retaking his place on the right.
Tactical analysis: midfield battle could be key
Norway’s inclination towards a direct style could play into Brazil’s hands and a more controlled approach could give them the upper hand, as Japan displayed in the first half of the last round.
The key tactical duel is whether Brazil can stop Norway breaking through the first press. If Norway consistently find Martin Ødegaard in space, they can turn the game into a high-speed exchange where Haaland becomes increasingly dangerous. If Brazil control central zones, they can gradually suffocate Norway’s attacking outlets.
Set-pieces may also play a major role. Norway’s physical profile gives them an edge in aerial duels, while Brazil’s technical superiority from dead-ball situations adds another layer of threat in tight knockout margins.
Key players to watch
This match is defined by two elite attackers operating at opposite ends of the tactical spectrum, with Vinícius Júnior for Brazil and Erling Haaland for Norway shaping the entire rhythm of the contest.
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
Vinícius Júnior has developed into Brazil’s primary attacking reference point, producing decisive moments throughout the tournament. With four goals already in the competition and a growing influence in central and wide areas, he remains the most dangerous player on the pitch whenever Brazil transition at speed. His ability to isolate defenders in 1v1 situations will be especially important against Norway’s back line, which has struggled when forced to defend large spaces behind the midfield.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Erling Haaland continues to carry huge responsibility as part of Norway’s attacking threat. He has been decisive in knockout moments already, including a late winner against Ivory Coast to send Norway into the Round of 16. Even when isolated, his movement and finishing ability make him a constant danger, and Norway’s entire attacking structure is built around getting him service in high-value areas as quickly as possible. Haaland to score vs Brazil seems a strong option, despite facing tougher opposition.
Where to watch Brazil vs Norway in the UK and Ireland
UK broadcast schedules have yet to be confirmed for the rest of the knockout games, but fans will find this game on either BBC or ITV and their respective streaming and digital platforms.
Viewers in the Republic of Ireland can find live coverage of the big game on RTÉ2 and online.
Market insights and probability predictions
The odds for Brazil vs Norway points at the South Americans being favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, with Norway priced as outsiders but not without a realistic chance of an upset given their attacking profile and Erling Haaland-led threat.
Converted into implied probability, Brazil are priced at approximately 60–63% to win the match in 90 minutes, with Norway sitting around 18–22%, and the draw in the 20–22% range. This reflects a more open tie than Brazil’s reputation might suggest.
The goals markets lean towards an open contest. Both Teams To Score seems a strong prediction for Brazil vs Norway, driven by the Europeans’ consistent ability to create chances through transition and Haaland’s finishing efficiency, combined with Brazil’s attacking full-back structure which can leave space in behind. Over 2.5 goals is also priced as a strong secondary expectation, suggesting the market anticipates at least moderate attacking output from both sides.
In the scorer markets, Vinícius Júnior is among Brazil’s most likely scorers given his central attacking role and recent tournament form, while Erling Haaland remains one of the standout picks across the entire Round of 16 stage. His individual scoring probability is broadly estimated in the high-30% to low-40% range, reflecting both volume of chances and Norway’s direct style of play.
Combination betting angles generally lean towards Brazil to win + BTTS, or narrower scoreline profiles such as a 2-1 Brazil victory. However, the market also clearly respects Norway’s transition threat, meaning this is priced more like a competitive knockout tie than a routine Brazil win, with variance built into almost every major market.
