England Edge Norway in Extra-Time Thriller to Book World Cup Semi-Final Spot

England are through to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Norway 2-1 following extra time in a dramatic quarter-final that tested Thomas Tuchel's side to the limit. The Three Lions fought back from behind before Jude Bellingham's second goal of the night secured their place in the final four.

Norway Make the Perfect Start

England found themselves under pressure for much of the opening half as Norway looked confident in possession and dangerous on the counter-attack. Martin Ødegaard pulled the strings in midfield while Erling Haaland kept England's defenders occupied throughout.

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup finished calmly beyond Jordan Pickford after Norway carved open England's defence with a well-worked move.

England struggled to create clear-cut chances during the opening period and looked set to trail at the interval.

Bellingham Delivers Again

Just when Norway thought they would head into half-time with the advantage, Jude Bellingham once again produced a moment of magic.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, the midfielder found space inside the penalty area before firing a low finish into the corner to level the match. The equaliser completely changed the momentum and gave England renewed confidence heading into the second half.

Chances at Both Ends

The second half produced an entertaining contest with both teams searching for the decisive goal. Norway continued to threaten through Haaland and Ødegaard, while England began to grow into the game with Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden all going close.

Norway briefly believed they had restored their lead, only for the goal to be ruled out after a foul in the build-up. England also created several dangerous opportunities but were unable to find a way past Ørjan Nyland.

After 90 minutes could not separate the sides, the quarter-final headed into extra time.

England Find the Winner

England needed only a few minutes of extra time to finally break Norway's resistance. A powerful effort was spilled by goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, allowing Jude Bellingham to react quickest and smash home from close range to complete his brace.

Norway refused to give up and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but England's defence held firm under sustained pressure. Jordan Pickford also produced several important saves to ensure the Three Lions protected their narrow advantage until the final whistle.

Semi-Final Awaits

The victory sends England into the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, keeping alive hopes of winning the nation's first World Cup since 1966.

Although it was far from a perfect performance, England once again showed resilience, determination and the ability to produce in the biggest moments. Jude Bellingham's match-winning display will undoubtedly dominate the headlines as Thomas Tuchel's side move one step closer to football's biggest prize.

Norway leave the tournament with plenty of credit after an outstanding campaign that saw them eliminate several strong nations before pushing England all the way to extra time in one of the most entertaining matches of the World Cup so far.