England is headed to the FIFA World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018 after Jude Bellingham delivered another unforgettable performance, scoring twice including a dramatic extra-time winner to lift the Three Lions to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Norway in the quarterfinals.
With a place in the final four on the line, England once again turned to its biggest star. Bellingham’s decisive strike in the third minute of extra time completed another comeback and kept England’s dream of ending its 60-year World Cup title drought alive.
The Three Lions, champions in 1966, are now just one victory away from reaching the World Cup final. England will face either defending champion Argentina or Switzerland, who were scheduled to meet later Saturday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Real Madrid midfielder continued his sensational tournament by scoring both of England’s goals. His late first-half equalizer erased Norway’s lead before his extra-time winner sparked jubilant celebrations among England supporters.
Bellingham now has six goals in the tournament, tying teammate Harry Kane for England’s scoring lead. Only France’s Kylian Mbappé (eight) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (eight) have scored more in the competition.
His latest heroics came just days after scoring twice in England’s dramatic Round of 16 victory over co-host Mexico.
Norway entered the match as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises after stunning Brazil in the Round of 16, and they continued their fearless run early against England.
Andreas Schjelderup, making just his second start of the tournament, silenced the England faithful in the 36th minute. The young winger unleashed a shot that struck the inside of the right post before bouncing into the net, giving Norway a 1-0 lead despite England controlling possession for much of the opening half.
Schjelderup celebrated by spreading his arms wide toward the crowd before teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders, another memorable moment for the Scandinavian side that had captured fans around the world with its “Viking row” celebrations.
England, however, found an immediate response. Moments before halftime, a Norway goal kick appeared to glance off an aerial camera cable before falling to England midfielder Elliot Anderson. Play continued, and Anderson helped begin the move that eventually found Bellingham, who calmly fired a low finish past goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland to level the score.
By FIFA rules, play would have been stopped for a drop ball had officials noticed the ball contacting the cable, but the incident went uncalled, allowing England’s equalizer to stand.
The goal ignited the crowd, which included music legend Mick Jagger and England icon David Beckham.
Norway nearly reclaimed the advantage early in the second half when Torbjørn Heggem knocked home a rebound following a corner kick in the 56th minute.
After a lengthy VAR review, however, the goal was ruled out because Erling Haaland committed a foul inside the penalty area before the finish.
It proved to be one of the match’s defining moments.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also made several crucial saves throughout the contest, including a spectacular point-blank stop on one of Haaland’s trademark headers during the first half.
For the first time all tournament, Norway’s prolific striker was unable to find the back of the net. Haaland, who entered the match with seven World Cup goals, was closely marked throughout the evening before being substituted for Jørgen Strand Larsen during the second half of extra time.
As fatigue set in during extra time, England’s stars continued to push forward. Just three minutes into the extra-time period, Bellingham found space inside the Norwegian defense and buried the winning goal, completing his brace and sending England into the semifinals.
The midfielder’s composure under pressure once again proved decisive as England survived another tense knockout battle.
Although the defeat ended Norway’s remarkable World Cup journey, the Scandinavian nation leaves the tournament with its reputation greatly enhanced.
Playing in its first World Cup quarterfinal, Norway became one of the competition’s feel-good stories behind Haaland’s goal-scoring exploits, Schjelderup’s emergence, and a spirited squad that captured global attention with its entertaining style and unforgettable celebrations.
Despite the heartbreak, Norway demonstrated it belongs among international football’s rising powers.
Before kickoff, players and fans observed a brief moment of silence in memory of South African midfielder Jayden Adams, whose death at the age of 25 was announced earlier Saturday.
The tribute provided a solemn beginning before another dramatic chapter unfolded in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England’s resilience has become a defining characteristic of its World Cup campaign. After rallying from two goals down to eliminate Mexico in the Round of 16, Gareth Southgate’s side once again showed its championship mentality by overcoming adversity against Norway.
With Bellingham producing one of the finest tournaments of his career and Harry Kane continuing to provide leadership and goals, England now stands just one victory away from reaching its first World Cup final since 1966.
Whether awaiting Lionel Messi’s Argentina or a determined Switzerland side, England enters the semifinals full of confidence, knowing its biggest stars continue to deliver when the stakes are highest.
