World Cup
2026-07-05 - Brazil vs Norway
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football : World: FIFA World Cup - Round of 16
Venue: MetLife Stadium
Sunday 5th July 2026, 1500hrs (local)
Brazil
This version of Brazil has been a refreshing change for many fans of the Selecao as the previously notoriously slow starters in the World Cup bring a four-game unbeaten run into this upcoming round of 16 encounter with Norway at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon, including picking up three wins in the process.
Despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in the opening game of Group C, Brazil have subsequently collected three wins on the trot by virtue of important victories at the expense of Haiti, Scotland and Japan respectively.
The bigger picture shows Carlo Ancelotti’s side have now put together a useful and well-timed seven match unbeaten sequence which consists of picking up no fewer than six wins along the way.
Italian coach, Carlo Ancelotti has the distinction of being Brazil’s first foreign manager of the national team - can he guide the Selecao to success here?
Norway
Norway finished runners-up behind the Group I favourites, France, courtesy of two wins and a loss on their way to qualifying for the knockout rounds following early back-to-back wins against Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2 respectively, before falling to France in a 4-1 reverse in their final game of the group stage.
However, there is a caveat attached to that defeat to Les Bleus as Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken had made no fewer than 10 changes to the side that recorded the aforementioned win over Senegal for their final group game, including the absence of their leading goalscorer, Erling Haaland.
Normal service was resumed though in their round of 32 clash with Ivory Coast as The Vikings registered a 2-1 win over the African nation to take their place in this round of 16 clash with Brazil, and having suffered just two defeats in their last 20 internationals overall, the Norwegians will fancy their chances of disrupting Brazil’s momentum.
The Betting Verdict
There has been limited action between Brazil and Norway but the Norwegians perhaps hold a slight edge after recording a 2-1 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup in their only previous meeting.
Norway look well equipped to at least hold Brazil to a tight encounter.
The Pick :
Brazil 1-1 Norway
