England secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway on Saturday. Midfield star Jude Bellingham scored twice to inspire the Three Lions to a comeback win and set up a blockbuster semifinal clash against defending champions Argentina.
The quarterfinal produced high drama as Norway pushed England throughout the contest, but Bellingham’s brilliance ultimately proved decisive.
Norway Strike First Through Andreas Schjelderup
Norway opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup unleashed a superb strike to beat the England goalkeeper and give his side a deserved lead.
England responded just before halftime through Jude Bellingham, who produced a brilliant solo run before finishing confidently to restore parity. Harry Kane thought he had given England the lead in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
VAR Drama Keeps Match Level
The second half featured several key moments, with Norway believing they had regained the lead through Torbjørn Heggem. However, VAR ruled out the goal after determining that Erling Haaland had committed a foul during the build-up.
England continued to press but could not find a winner in normal time, forcing the match into extra time.
Bellingham Delivers the Winner
The decisive moment arrived in extra time when Bellingham reacted quickest to a rebound inside the penalty area to score his second goal of the night and sixth of the tournament.
England managed the closing stages confidently to seal a memorable victory and continue their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
England to Face Argentina in Semifinal
England will now face Argentina in a highly anticipated semifinal after the reigning champions defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in their quarterfinal.
The encounter renews one of football’s greatest rivalries, with the two nations sharing a long and memorable history at the FIFA World Cup.
Bellingham Equals England World Cup Record
Bellingham’s sixth goal of the tournament saw him equal Harry Kane and Gary Lineker for the most goals scored by an England player in a single FIFA World Cup edition. The Real Madrid midfielder also became the first English midfielder to score five or more goals in a major international tournament.
Despite a spirited performance from Norway, including another impressive display from Erling Haaland, England’s experience and Bellingham’s match-winning contribution proved enough to book a place among the final four.
