Haaland plays down Norway's hopes against Brazil in Last-Sixteen clash

Erling Haaland has admitted Norway face an uphill battle against Brazil in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, describing the five-time champions as overwhelming favourites and conceding his side has only a slim chance of progressing.

Norway booked their place in the knockout stage with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast and will now face Brazil in one of the most anticipated Round of 16 fixtures.

Despite Norway's unbeaten record against Brazil—having never lost in four previous meetings—Haaland insisted history will count for little against a side widely regarded as one of the tournament favourites.

Speaking to FIFA after Norway sealed qualification, the Manchester City striker was asked about his team's chances against Brazil.

"Our chances are very small," Haaland said.

Earlier, reacting to the Round of 16 draw, the Norwegian captain had acknowledged the scale of the challenge.

"The reality is that we'll have to face Brazil in the Round of 16," he said.

Norway's qualification sparked jubilant celebrations among supporters at Dallas Stadium, with players joining fans in the team's traditional "Viking rowing" celebration after the final whistle.

Haaland said the growing excitement surrounding the national team has become a major source of motivation.

"The whole country is behind us now, and that unity gives us extra confidence on the pitch," he said.

However, the 24-year-old stressed that the knockout phase leaves no room for complacency.

"We're in the Round of 16 now, where every team is strong. It's not going to be easy to go any further," Haaland said. "We don't know if we'll succeed, but we've prepared well and we'll try to maintain that level."

Haaland has scored five goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and has been instrumental in Norway's remarkable campaign. His performances have helped the Scandinavian nation reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 1998, ending a 28-year wait on football's biggest stage.