Brazil takes on Norway this Sunday in the World Cup round of 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 17:00 Brasília time, or 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The venue is branded for the tournament as New York New Jersey Stadium. The knockout match carries added significance: Norway is the only national team never to have lost to Brazil in official competition. In four previous encounters, Brazil has suffered two defeats and drawn twice against the Scandinavian side. Their World Cup history includes Norway’s 2-1 group-stage victory over Brazil in 1998, a result the Associated Press described as “a victory that many consider the greatest ever for the Norwegians.”
TV Globo, sportv, ge tv, and ge.globo will broadcast the match. TV Globo’s commentary team features Everaldo Marques, Ana Thaís Matos, Denilson, and Junior. Luiz Carlos Jr. will narrate on sportv, with Eric Faria and Ricardinho alongside him. Jorge Iggor, Bruno Formiga, and Luana Maluf will cover the game for ge tv. SBT and CazéTV will also provide live coverage, while ge.globo offers real-time updates.
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, with 48 teams playing 104 matches. The expanded knockout format adds a round of 32 before the round of 16, so Brazil and Norway have each already played a knockout match. Brazil’s group-stage opener against Morocco was scheduled for East Rutherford on June 13, while Norway faced Iraq in Boston on June 16. Brazil reached the knockout stage by topping Group C, drawing 1-1 with Morocco and beating Haiti and Scotland 3-0. The team then advanced past Japan with a 2-1 win, sealed by Martinelli’s stoppage-time goal. Norway finished as Group I runners-up, beating Iraq and Senegal but suffering a heavy loss to France. In the round of 32, Norway beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 to reach the last 16. Antonio Nusa scored the opener, and Erling Haaland sealed the win with an 86th-minute goal, information from an Associated Press report carried by The Post-Journal.
Injuries have complicated Brazil’s preparations. Lucas Paquetá is sidelined with a left thigh muscle injury, while Raphinha, recently recovered from a right thigh issue, is expected to start on the bench. Neymar returned from a calf injury against Scotland and showed visible emotion after his comeback. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has yet to confirm Paquetá’s replacement. Gabriel Martinelli, who trained as a starter, is the likely candidate.
Brazil’s probable lineup is Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Douglas Santos in defense; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, and Gabriel Martinelli in midfield; and Rayan, Matheus Cunha, and Vini Jr. in attack. Paquetá is out with an injury, while Casemiro and Danilo are one yellow card away from suspension.
Under coach Ståle Solbakken, Norway builds its strategy around Arsenal midfielder Odegaard and Manchester City striker Haaland. The team scored 37 goals in eight European qualifying matches. Solbakken faces two selection dilemmas: Ryerson is likely to miss out at right-back with a muscle injury, while Oscar Bobb could replace Sorloth in attack alongside Haaland. Norway’s expected lineup is Nyland; Pedersen (or Fredrik Aursnes), Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, and Wolfe; Berge, Patrick Berg, and Odegaard; Nusa, Alexander Sorloth (or Oscar Bobb), and Haaland. Antonio Nusa is the only Norway player at risk of suspension.
Ismail Elfath (USA) will referee, assisted by Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins. Said Martínez (Honduras) is the fourth official, and Walter Lopez (Honduras) the reserve assistant.
Brazil’s struggles against European teams have been pronounced since the country’s fifth World Cup title in 2022, with subsequent tournament eliminations at the hands of France, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Croatia. Brazil and Norway last met two decades ago in Oslo, drawing 1-1. That unusual history adds intrigue to this year’s match. Scheduling and weather have also affected other World Cup fixtures, including the recent Mexico-England match moved due to storm risks.
For Spanish viewers and residents, the result could shape future World Cup narratives, given Brazil’s persistent challenge against European opposition. The match will be available across several platforms, reflecting interest in both teams and the broader stakes for international football.
