England Advances to World Cup Semis
Jude Bellingham's Double Secures England 2-1 World Cup Semi-Final Berth Over Norway
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Jude Bellingham scored twice in extra time to send England into the World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 win over Norway on July 11, 2026, at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Yahoo Sports reported that Bellingham's brace — his fifth and sixth goals of the tournament — ended Norway's historic run and booked England a place in the last four for the first time in consecutive World Cups.
England will now face either Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta on July 15, Evening Standard reported. The victory was England's fourth straight win at this World Cup, though it came at a cost — Bellingham and his teammates were pushed to 120 minutes in brutal Miami heat, with temperatures hitting 90°F and a heat index of 108°F at kickoff.
How Bellingham Turned the Match on Its Head
Norway struck first in the 36th minute. Patrick Berg robbed Harry Kane in midfield and fed Andreas Schjelderup on the left flank. The 22-year-old Benfica winger cut inside and curled a shot off the inside of the far post, beating Jordan Pickford. England protested a foul on Kane in the buildup, but VAR cleared the goal.
Bellingham leveled in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Anthony Gordon crossed from the right, and Bellingham danced past three defenders before drilling a low shot past goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. Then, just three minutes into extra time, Nyland fumbled a Morgan Rogers shot. Bellingham reacted first and fired home the rebound to win it. Daily Advance reported England held on from there to seal a 2-1 result.
Camera Cable, VAR, and Norway's Fury at the Officials
Bellingham's first goal came wrapped in controversy. Before his equalizer, Nyland's goal kick struck an overhead camera cable above the pitch. The ball deflected straight to England's Elliot Anderson. Two passes later, Bellingham scored. Norwegian players protested loudly, but referee Clément Turpin allowed the goal to stand without VAR review.
Then, in the 55th minute, Norway had a goal wiped out. Torbjørn Heggem tapped in from close range after a corner, but VAR ruled that Erling Haaland had pushed Anderson in the box before the kick was taken. FOX Sports rules analyst Mark Clattenburg said the cable incident "should have been picked up by the VAR" and called the decision-making inconsistent. Norwegian fans and media were furious, calling the officiating a key reason for their exit.
Norway's 28-Year Dream Ends in Miami
Norway had not played at a World Cup since 1998 — a 28-year wait. Under coach Ståle Solbakken, they qualified with a perfect record: eight wins from eight games. They then knocked out Ivory Coast and five-time world champions Brazil to reach the quarter-finals. It was the furthest Norway had ever gone at a World Cup.
Solbakken, 58, has his own remarkable story. He was clinically dead for seven minutes after a cardiac arrest in 2001 before making a full recovery. On Saturday, the pressure showed — he threw a water bottle at his assistant coach after England's controversial equalizer. After the match, he chose to focus on his players rather than the referee calls, saying before kickoff that he felt "England has more pressure than us."
Tuchel Warns England Must Play Better in Atlanta
England manager Thomas Tuchel was relieved but honest after the final whistle. "We need to play better," he said. "We struggle too much to overcome a high press. We are a bit overprotecting, overthinking, and we need to get rid of that." England were held together largely by Bellingham's brilliance rather than a dominant team performance.
Bellingham's six goals put him third in the Golden Boot race, behind Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, who each have eight. England's semi-final is set for July 15 in Atlanta. Physical recovery will be the top priority after 120 minutes in Florida's punishing summer heat. Evening Standard confirmed the opponent will be either Argentina or Switzerland, with that quarter-final still to come.
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