​Jude Bellingham found the net in the third minute of extra time to propel England past Norway 2-1, sending the Three Lions into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. Bellingham’s goal came after he had already leveled the score late in the first half, making it a brace for the Real Madrid midfielder. With six goals in this tournament, he is now tied with England teammate Harry Kane, though Mbappé of France leads with eight, followed by Messi of Argentina. Earlier in the round of 16, Bellingham scored twice as England defeated co-host Mexico to advance.
England, the 1966 World Cup champions, entered the match under heavy scrutiny with a chance to reach the title game, and they now sit one win away from doing so. The Three Lions were set to face either Argentina or Switzerland, who were scheduled to play Saturday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
Norway struck first through Andreas Schjelderup in the 36th minute, marking a moment of excitement for a squad that had captivated fans with its “Viking row” and the magnetic presence of 6-foot-5 striker Erling Haaland. Haaland, the Manchester City star who had seven goals in the tournament, did not score in this match for the first time at a World Cup. He was substituted in the second half of extra time, making way for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Norway nearly flipped the script in the 56th minute when Torbjørn Heggem pounced on a rebound off a corner and beat Jordan Pickford, but the goal was nullified after a video review determined a foul by Haaland in the box. Haaland also came close earlier with a point-blank header saved by Pickford.
Schjelderup, making only his second start of the tournament, struck a shot that deflected off the right post and into the net, catching England off guard as they had dominated possession. England’s equalizer, converted from close range by Bellingham, elicited a thunderous roar from the crowd, which included notable voices like Mick Jagger and England great David Beckham. Schjelderup, who had assisted both of Haaland’s goals in Norway’s round-of-16 win against Brazil, celebrated by spreading his arms wide and allowing his teammates to lift him onto their shoulders.
Meanwhile, Kane remained off to the side of midfield, nursing an apparent leg issue and peering toward the officials after a non-call, a moment that underscored the tense nature of the match as the comeback unfolded.
In the sequence that sparked England’s equalizer, a Norway goal kick appeared to contact an aerial camera cable before bouncing to England’s Elliot Anderson. The ball was then played to Bellingham, who beat Ørjan Nyland with a precise low shot to the far post. Under the rules, if it had been determined that the ball had touched the cable, play would have been halted and possession decided by a drop ball.
Before the late drama, there was a brief moment of silence in memory of Jayden Adams, the 25-year-old South African midfielder whose death had been announced earlier in the day. It was a poignant moment that reminded fans of the fragile nature of the sport and the human stories that surround these international competitions.
This result sets up a semifinal scenario in which England, seeking to reclaim a place in a World Cup final after a long drought, prepares to face the winner of the Argentina-Switzerland tie. The tone of the match demonstrated England’s resilience, the sharpness of Bellingham, and the enduring quality of a squad that has endured immense expectations and pressure at this tournament.