A place in the semifinals will be on the line when Norway and England lock horns in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal at Miami Stadium on Saturday. Both sides arrive full of confidence after navigating difficult Round of 16 encounters and will be eager to take another step toward football’s biggest prize.
The Vikings have already claimed one major scalp by ousting five-time champions Brazil in the previous round – can they now end the dreams of the Three Lions, who showed their hunger for World Cup success by overcoming co-hosts Mexico this past weekend? Here’s the breakdown as Norway and England battle in ‘Miami Vice’.
Head-to-head
Matches played 12
Norway wins 2
England wins 7
Draws 3
Norway goals 7
England goals 28
Norway and England have met in 12 previous matches, with the Three Lions claiming seven wins compared to two for the Vikings, while three games have been drawn. The teams’ most recent clash was a friendly at Wembley Stadium in 2014 which England won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Wayne Rooney.
Players to watch
Norway – Erling Haaland
Tournament stats
– Appearances: 4
– Goals: 7
– Assists: 1
– Yellow/red cards: 0/0
Erling Haaland has further underlined his reputation as perhaps the best outright No.9 in world football, scoring seven goals in just four games at the global tournament – including a brace of goals to secure the Vikings a famous win over Brazil.
England – Harry Kane
Tournament stats
– Appearances: 5
– Goals: 6
– Assists: 1
– Yellow/red cards: 0/0
Harry Kane is England’s captain, highest scorer and all-round clutch player – without him, the Three Lions would already have gone home. The Bayern Munich forward will look to outshine Erling Haaland and take his team to the semifinals.
Key stats
– 51.4 – Erling Haaland has averaged a goal every 51.4 minutes at the World Cup.
– 9 – Norway have conceded nine goals in five matches at the World Cup.
– 3 – Mexico had not conceded a single goal at the World Cup until they ran into England and shipped three inside an hour.
– 73 – Harry Kane has scored an astonishing 73 goals in the 2025-26 season for club and country.
Tactical battle
Ståle Solbakken’s Norway arrive with a pragmatic, adaptable structure, typically a flexible 4-3-3 that becomes more direct and physical in key moments, especially through set-pieces and Erling Haaland’s presence. Their recent win over Brazil underlined Solbakken’s in-game adaptability and reliance on vertical transitions and late attacking surges.
Thomas Tuchel’s England, meanwhile, emphasise tactical flexibility, using wide overloads and a crossing-heavy approach to break compact defences, while remaining willing to make bold positional switches mid-game. The battle hinges on whether Norway’s structure and aerial threat can disrupt England’s fluid attacking patterns and territorial control.
Broadcast details
Times CAT
Saturday 11 July
23:00: Quarterfinal 3 – Norway v England – Live on SuperSport World Cup Central
