Jude Bellingham double sends England past Norway into World Cup semi-final against Argentina

MIAMI, Florida — Jude Bellingham struck twice to carry England to a 2-1 extra-time comeback victory over Norway at Miami Stadium, clinching a highly coveted spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals. Thomas Tuchel's team faced severe pressure throughout the match but rode the brilliant individual performance of the Real Madrid midfielder to survive the tournament scare.

The victory secures a heavy-hitting semifinal matchup against defending champions Argentina, scheduled for Wednesday evening in Atlanta.

Tactical Breakthrough After Early Shock

Norway, playing in their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1998, opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Winger Andreas Schjelderup hit a curling ball from the left flank that drifted past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, clipping the inside of the far post to stun the English side.

England struggled to find a quick response against a compact Norwegian defense but broke through deep into first-half added time. Bellingham glided past two defenders into the penalty area and fired a low shot home to level the match at 1-1 right before the interval.

Extra-Time Decider and VAR Drama

The second half saw a physical exchange of chances, including a disallowed goal for Norway after VAR spotted a foul by star forward Erling Haaland in the buildup. Unable to break the tie in regulation, the quarterfinal headed to extra time.

The match winner arrived quickly in the 93rd minute. Harry Kane forced a sharp save out of Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, but Bellingham reacted first to slide home the rebound from close range. The double brings Bellingham level with Kane as the team's top scorer in the tournament, with both players sitting on six goals.

England later had a penalty overturned by a secondary VAR review, but held on through the remaining extra time periods to seal the victory.

Discipline Boost Ahead of Argentina Clash

In addition to the victory, manager Thomas Tuchel received a significant roster boost. Core players Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, and Nico O'Reilly all navigated the intense match without picking up a yellow card. This means they carry completely clean disciplinary records into the semifinals, escaping any yellow-card suspension risks for the match in Atlanta.