England beats Norway 2-1 to reach World Cup semifinals

England advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Norway in extra time on Saturday, July 11, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win, secured by a brace from midfielder Jude Bellingham, was overshadowed by significant controversy and a critical assessment from England manager Thomas Tuchel despite the historic result.

Norway took a surprise lead in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup’s mishit cross from the left struck the far post and went in. England leveled deep into first-half stoppage time as Bellingham collected a pass from Anthony Gordon, drove into the penalty area, and finished with a low shot. The buildup to that equalizer became a major point of contention, as Norwegian staff argued the ball had struck an overhead camera cable before England intercepted it, a claim officials dismissed after a review.

The controversy continued early in the second half when Norway thought it had regained the lead, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR review determined Erling Haaland had fouled England’s Elliot Anderson in the penalty area before the corner was taken. With the score tied 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match...