​South Florida will stage its penultimate World Cup match at 5 p.m. on Saturday, a quarterfinal clash between England and Norway. Both teams earned thrilling victories en route to Miami, and the winner will advance to the semifinals in Atlanta to face the winner of the Argentina/Switzerland quarterfinal. As of Wednesday afternoon, England sits as the favorite. Here’s a breakdown of each side.
England
Manager: Thomas Tuchel, who has previously coached Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.
FIFA ranking: 4th
World Cup appearances: 17
Best finish: Champions, 1966
Odds to win World Cup: +475
Star players: Forward Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Midfielder Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Midfielder Declan Rice (Arsenal), Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (Everton)
How England reached the quarterfinals: The Three Lions performed solidly in the group stage, defeating Croatia and Panama and drawing with Ghana, topping Group L with seven points. Their knockout ties, however, have been tense. In the Round of 32, England fell behind 1-0 early against the Democratic Republic of Congo. They trailed for nearly 70 minutes before Kane equalized in the 75th minute and then converted again in the 86th minute to secure a 2-1 victory and progression to the Round of 16. Next came a match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City against host nation Mexico. Bellingham struck twice in two minutes to push England ahead 2-0, but Mexico clawed back to make it 2-1 before Kane added a penalty to make it 3-1. England had to close out the win with 10 men after defender Jarell Quansah was sent off. Mexico again narrowed the margin to 3-2, but England held firm to advance.
What to watch for: Kane has emerged as one of the tournament’s leading offensive forces, with six goals to his name. He sits fourth in the Golden Boot race, trailing Lionel Messi (eight goals), Norway’s Erling Haaland (seven), and France’s Kylian Mbappe (seven). England will also be without Quansah for the upcoming match due to his red card against Mexico. The 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender has logged 117 minutes across two World Cup appearances for England this tournament.
Norway
Manager: Stale Solbakken, who has previously coached Wolverhampton and Copenhagen
FIFA ranking: 19th
World Cup appearances: 4
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2026)
Odds to win World Cup: +1400
Star players: Forward Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Midfielder Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Defender Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund)
How Norway reached the quarterfinals: Norway, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, finished second in Group I after beating Iraq and Senegal and losing to a powerful France side. Haaland provided the clinching moment in the Round of 32 by scoring the decisive goal to edge Ivory Coast. In the Round of 16, Norway delivered a surprising upset over Brazil, with Haaland scoring a pair to seal a memorable win. The victory set up a marquee quarterfinal in Florida against England, a test that would push Norway toward a spot in the semifinals.
What to watch for: Haaland is the standout star for Norway and one of the tournament’s most dangerous attackers. His prolific form has been a central pillar for Solbakken’s side. Odegaard, the captain, will look to orchestrate attacks and create chances through the midfield. Defensively, Ryerson and the rest of the back line must contend with England’s pace and precision, seeking to disrupt their rhythm and force the game into extra time or penalties if needed.
Key narrative surrounding the matchup: England arrives as favorites given their depth, experience, and track record in knockout play. Yet Norway’s creative firepower in Haaland and the steady play of Odegaard present a dangerous challenge that could disrupt England’s rhythm. The outcome will likely hinge on how well England can manage Haaland’s movement and how effectively Norway can absorb pressure and capitalize on quick counterattacks. The winner advances to a semifinal showdown in Atlanta, awaiting the outcome of Argentina versus Switzerland.