Brazil, the team that beat Japan, are out — Haaland's Norway win 2-1 to reach the last eight

Two late strikes from Haaland

In the 79th minute, Andreas Schjelderup crossed from the left and Haaland met it with his head, into a corner the goalkeeper could not reach. The Manchester City striker broke a match that had been goalless until then. He got the second as well: in the final minute of the 90, a low, hard shot found the left corner to make it 2-0. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey had been a sea of Brazil yellow, but the last eleven minutes turned the tie on its head.

Brazil's response came too late

Brazil had a chance to lead in the first half. After a VAR review of Kristoffer Ajer's tackle on Matheus Cunha, they were awarded a penalty — but Bruno Guimaraes' effort was saved. Bury that one and the match might have looked completely different. Two goals down in second-half stoppage time, Brazil won another spot kick for a foul on Casemiro, and Neymar converted to make it 1-2, but the clock had all but run out. Carlo Ancelotti's favorites went out without taking their moments.

Win-or-bust Brazil, out earliest since 1990

This exit stings. From 1994 through 2022, Brazil were the only nation to reach the quarterfinals of every World Cup. That streak ended in the round of 16. It is their earliest exit since 1990 — 36 years. A five-time champion, judged all tournament by a win-or-nothing standard, was gone in a blink. Ancelotti's first World Cup in charge ended far short of the goal.

The team that stopped Japan is gone the next round

For Japanese fans, the result lands strangely. Japan lost 2-1 to Brazil in the round of 32 on June 30 (JST) and left the tournament. Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead in the first half, Casemiro equalized after the break, and Martinelli scored the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The side that ended Japan's summer then fell one round on, also to a late goal. Japan 2-1, Brazil 2-1 — both settled after the 90th minute.

Norway's first quarterfinal, Haaland level for the Golden Boot

At their first World Cup since 1998, Norway have reached the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Their two previous visits to the last 16, in 1938 and 1998, both ended in defeat; Haaland's brace finally cleared that wall. It was also Haaland's first World Cup appearance. He now has seven goals at the tournament, level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot race, and his international scoring run stands at 14 straight games and 27 goals.

The last eight is taking shape

In the round of 16, Morocco beat co-host Canada 3-0 and France beat Paraguay 1-0, both booking quarterfinal places early. The two meet on July 9 near Boston, in Foxborough — a rematch of the 2022 semifinal. Norway's quarterfinal is on July 11 in Miami; the opponent will be decided by the Mexico-England match that follows.