According to Xinhua News Agency, Brazil lost 2-1 to Norway in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on July 5. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the match that although Brazil controlled the tempo for long periods, it was ultimately Norwegian striker Erling Haaland who decided the outcome.
Haaland scored twice in the second half, helping Norway reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history. Ancelotti said: "We knew what style they would play. They tried to maintain intensity, and we controlled the rhythm for about 70 minutes, but in the end Haaland made the difference."
Ancelotti said the entire Brazilian squad was deeply saddened by the elimination, but he hoped everyone would see this tournament as a new beginning. "We must keep improving and find new ideas. This loss is not the end, but the start of a new cycle." Brazil's previous Round of 16 exit was back in 1990.
Neymar Announces Farewell to Brazil National Team
In the second half of the match, Neymar came on as a substitute and converted a penalty. After the final whistle, the 34-year-old was in tears.
In a moment captured live by Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo, Neymar greeted commentator Formiga and said: "It's all over. I started here, and I end here."
Neymar was referring to the fact that his first match for the Brazil national team was at the same stadium — a friendly against the United States in 2010.
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