Brazil Fails to Defeat Norway for the First Time, Records Their Weakest World Cup Performance in 36 Years

An interesting fact is that Brazil has never managed to beat Norway in international football despite playing against 88 different teams so far. On June 22, in Kathmandu, Brazil, often regarded as a favorite to win the FIFA World Cup, was eliminated in the Round of 16 at the 23rd edition of the World Cup currently underway in North America. Even though they lost 2-1 to European nation Norway, Brazil’s tournament ended there. At the New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States, Norway secured a 2-1 victory over Brazil with two magnificent goals from Erling Haaland, reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. Returning to the World Cup after 28 years, Norway has made history with every match, while Brazil, synonymous with World Cup football, was forced to go home after the Round of 16.

This unexpected victory was surprising not only for Brazil but also for football fans worldwide. Brazil had set a goal to win the World Cup for the sixth time, adding a sixth star after 24 years, but this aspiration remained unfulfilled. Before this World Cup, Brazil had played four matches against Norway without winning any. Following their defeat in the Round of 16, Brazil has now failed to beat Norway in five matches, meaning they will have to wait longer to claim a victory over Norway. Interestingly, Brazil has only failed to beat Norway among the 88 teams it has faced globally. Conversely, Brazil remains unbeaten against 50 other nations. Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, and had hoped to replicate similar success this time.

Having secured its third World Cup title in 1970, Brazil won again in 1994 in the United States, 24 years later. However, since their 2002 World Cup victory, Brazil has faced increasing challenges at the tournament and has not reached the final since then. Although they made it to the semifinals in 2014 as hosts, Brazil suffered a devastating 7-1 loss to Germany on home soil and failed to reach the final. Their Round of 16 exit this time marks a further decline, failing to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 36 years. The last time Brazil was eliminated in the Round of 16 was in 1990, when Argentina beat them 1-0 with a goal by Claudio Caniggia in Italy. This World Cup performance ranks among Brazil’s weakest; to date, Brazil has exited at the Round of 16 on only three occasions in the FIFA World Cup.

In the inaugural 1930 World Cup, Brazil was knocked out in the group stage, and in the 1934 tournament, although they reached the knockout phase directly, they were eliminated in their first game, the Round of 16. Brazil also exited at the Round of 16 in 1990, and now 36 years later, they suffered the same fate. In this World Cup, Brazil, placed in Group C, drew 1-1 with Morocco in their opening match, conceding early but managing to equalize later. Brazil then defeated Haiti and Scotland to top the group and advance to the knockout stage. In the Round of 32, they beat Japan 2-1, overcoming an early deficit by scoring two second-half goals. Against Norway in the Round of 16, Brazil paid a high price for failing to take an early lead. They were awarded a penalty early on, but Bruno Guimarães’ penalty in the 14th minute was saved by Norway’s goalkeeper Nyland, denying Brazil the lead. Despite Brazil’s defenders trying to contain Erling Haaland, one of the most lethal strikers in world football, Haaland emerged as the hero in the late stages. He scored his first goal in the 79th minute to put Norway ahead. Brazil pushed for an equalizer, but Haaland’s second individual goal in the 90th minute made it 2-0 for Norway. In injury time, Brazil earned a penalty, which Neymar converted, but it was insufficient to prevent defeat. Following this loss, Neymar, Brazil’s top international goal scorer with 80 goals, announced his retirement from football.