World Cup 2026: Jude Bellingham Extra-Time Goal Sends England Past Norway
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jude Bellingham dragged England into the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a virtuoso performance. The Real Madrid maestro struck twice, including a decisive rebound early in extra time, to seal a thrilling 2-1 comeback over resilient Norway at Hard Rock Stadium. The evening began with a moment of silence to honour South African midfielder Jayden Adams, who tragically passed away at age 25 earlier in the day. Once action commenced, the Three Lions dictated early terms, monopolising possession as Thomas Tuchel's side probed Norway's defensive block. Yet Norway broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 36th minute. John Stones misjudged a clearance, Patrick Berg recycled the ball wide to Andreas Schjelderup, and the Benfica winger curled a dipping strike off Jordan Pickford’s right post to spark euphoric celebrations. England responded furiously. Two minutes into stoppage time, fortune and brilliance produced the equaliser. Ørjan Nyland’s long goal kick clipped an overhead aerial camera cable before falling to Elliot Anderson, but officials missed the contact, and play continued. Anderson found Bellingham, who skipped past four defenders and swept a low finish inside the far post, prompting a roar from the star-studded crowd featuring David Beckham and Mick Jagger.  The second half became a tactical chess match shaped by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention. Norway thought they had retaken the lead in the 56th minute when Torbjørn Heggem bundled home a loose rebound after a series of corners, but a video review found Erling Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson in the goalmouth and ruled it out. At the other end, Harry Kane had a goal ruled out for offside just before the regulation whistle. Denied service all evening by Marc Guéhi and Stones, Manchester City talisman Haaland was kept off the scoresheet for the first time in the tournament and later watched the final minutes of extra time from the bench after being replaced by Jørgen Strand Larsen. The breakthrough came in the 93rd minute. Kane forced a sharp save from Nyland with a point-blank header, and the keeper then parried a fierce long-range drive from substitute Morgan Rogers. Bellingham reacted fastest to the spill and smashed the rebound into the roof of the net. Bellingham’s brace lifts his tournament haul to six goals, tying teammate Kane and matching the record for the most goals scored by an English player in a single World Cup campaign. With the 1966 champions now 90 minutes from a historic return to the title match, they await the winner of Saturday night's blockbuster between Argentina and Switzerland.
