England are through to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after Jude Bellingham scored twice in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, sending Thomas Tuchel’s side into the last four for the first time since the 2018 tournament.
The Three Lions recovered from going behind to Andreas Schjelderup’s 36th-minute opener before Bellingham equalised deep into first-half stoppage time. With neither side able to find a winner in regulation, the contest headed into extra time, where the Real Madrid midfielder pounced on a goalkeeping error in the 93rd minute to complete England’s comeback.
Norway, appearing in their first World Cup quarter-final in decades, produced a spirited display led by Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Schjelderup. They thought they had restored their lead in the second half before VAR ruled out the goal for a foul by Haaland in the build-up, while Kristoffer Ajer also struck the crossbar during an intense period of Norwegian pressure.
England’s winner arrived moments after the restart in extra time when Ørjan Nyland spilled Morgan Rogers’ long-range effort, allowing Bellingham to react quickest and score from close range. A late penalty awarded to England was subsequently overturned following a VAR review, ensuring a tense finish before the Three Lions held on.
The victory books England a semi-final meeting against either Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday, July 15, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Captain Harry Kane admitted the performance fell below England’s highest standards but praised the team’s resilience, insisting there is “another level” the squad can still reach as the tournament enters its decisive stage.
The match also generated controversy after Norway questioned whether Bellingham’s first goal should have stood, claiming the ball had struck an overhead camera cable before the move developed. FIFA later confirmed, using connected-ball technology, that no contact had occurred, allowing the goal to stand.
England have now won successive knockout matches after coming from behind, reinforcing their growing reputation for resilience under Tuchel as they move within one victory of another FIFA World Cup final.