Brazil vs Norway - Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Erling Haaland & Vinicius Junior

Both teams locked horns during the 1998 FIFA World Cup as well.

Brazil and Norway will lock horns at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 6th, 2026. The game is one of the headline clashes of the Round of 16. This will be the fifth time these two nations will lock horns, and surprisingly, Brazil has never won against Norway in international football.

Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco on their opening matchday but bounced back with two back-to-back wins against Scotland and Haiti to secure the top spot in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They faced Japan in the Round of 32, and after an intense and cagey game against the Asian nation, Brazil managed to secure a 2-1 win with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the extra-time winner.

Norway, on the other hand have established themselves as one of the most improved national teams in world football over the last few years. They finished second in Group I, only behind the two-time winners, France, and had some impressive showings against Iraq and Senegal.

The Vikings locked horns with an in-form Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 and, with goals from Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland, sealed a 2-1 win and will play their first World Cup Round of 16 game in 28 years.

In this article, we will take a look at five players who can stand out during this highly anticipated clash between Brazil and Norway.

5. Neymar (Brazil)

Neymar is arguably the most talented player in the history of the sport. He is expected to come off the bench as he has regained his fitness in recent weeks. He is Brazil’s spiritual leader and can decide a game of football all on his own, even now.

His smart touches in pockets of space can allow him to exploit Norway’s shaky backline, and as he showcased with Santos last season, Neymar can still come up with important goals for his team.

4. Martin Ødegaard (Norway)

Coming in at number four on our list is Norwegian captain, Martin Ødegaard. 2025/26 was the best season of his career yet as he led Arsenal to their first-ever Premier League title in 23 years. He is the main creative force of his side and has racked up three assists in the 2026 FIFA World Cup already.

His ability to control the tempo of the game will come in handy for Norway against a technical and physical side like Brazil.

3. Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil)

Gabriel Magalhães has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in world football over the last few years. He played an important role in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side who went on to win the English Premier League.

He opts for an aggressive approach against his opponents, and considering Norway’s physicality, Gabriel will play a crucial role for Brazil.

2. Vinicius Junior (Brazil)

Second spot on our list belongs to Real Madrid’s star winger, Vinícius Júnior.  He had yet another successful campaign with Los Blancos as he registered 22 goals and 14 assists in 53 appearances. He has been the most productive Brazilian attacker in the ongoing competition so far, and he has four goals to his name.

When operating at his best, Vinicius Junior is just unplayable. Norway have had their defensive struggles, and Vinicius Junior will be eager to exploit them.

1. Erling Haaland

Topping our list is arguably the best striker in the world, Erling Haaland. He had yet another successful and prolific season with Manchester City as he scored 44 goals across all competitions for club and country so far, and has won the EFL and FA Cup.

He has scored 60 goals for the national team already in just 53 appearances and has already registered five goals in the ongoing tournament. He has the ability to take the game away from Brazil, and they will have to be sharp defensively in order to neutralize him.

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