Live: Côte d'Ivoire takes on Norway as round of 32 continues

Côte d'Ivoire takes on Norway, led by a returning Erling Haaland, in Dallas. Later, France meet Sweden and Mexico take on Ecuador.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

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Cote d'Ivoire vs Norway

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Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:18am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:18am

15' The Elephants are building here

It's definitely the right wing that is the focus for the men in orange.

Another break and a cross to the middle, a Norwegian defender had slipped over, and the ball came off Yan Diomande's foot on the left, and it went out of control over the byline.

After a slow start, the Elephants are on top right now.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:16am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:16am

13' The Elephants make a nice move - but the flag goes up

By Andrew McGarry

Côte d'Ivoire are making some progress down their right wing, and that was a great through ball from Guela Doue to Ange Yoan Bonny, but he can't control it - and it's offside anyway.

Norway will have to watch that, though!

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:13am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:13am

10' Norway break but chance doesn't come

By Andrew McGarry

That was nearly dangerous for Côte d'Ivoire.

They gave it away in midfield, and Antonio Nusa broke free and centred it. Martin Odegaard tried to set Haaland free on the left but it was cut off.

Holding possession is important here.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:10am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:10am

8' Côte d'Ivoire raising the pressure

By Andrew McGarry

This is better from the Elephants!

They get a good cross in from the right, and Yan Diomande is there at the back post but it's headed away by Norway.

And there's a couple of corners - nothing comes from them, but it's a warning from the men in orange.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:08am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:08am

5' Côte d'Ivoire sitting back

By Andrew McGarry

The Elephants are playing it very cool in the early stages.

They are sitting back and letting Norway dictate terms.

That could be dangerous against Haaland.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:05am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:05am

3' Haaland gets a header in but nothing comes of it

By Andrew McGarry

Norway are showing they are going to use the flanks tonight.

Alexander Sørloth made a break down the right, got to the byline and cut it in, Erling Haaland was waiting in the middle but his header was mistimed and was blocked by a string of players.

Solid start for Norway.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:03am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:03am

2' Norway controlling the ball early

By Andrew McGarry

We've been going a minute or two and the Norwegians have been controlling the ball.

Antonio Nusa did a nice burst down the left - that won't be the last of those this evening - but we haven't had any clear-cut chances yet.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:01am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 3:01am

We are underway in Dallas!

By Andrew McGarry

Here we go at Dallas Stadium!

Will this be a cagey,  cautious contest like some of the other round of 32 games so far?

Or will these two teams want to go out and take control early?

Côte d'Ivoire are playing in orange, which means Norway will play in all-white.

The winner here gets a match against five-time champions Brazil!

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:58am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:58am

How Côte d'Ivoire reached the knockout stages

By Andrew McGarry

Today is uncharted territory for Côte d'Ivoire, with the side playing its first knockout match at the World Cup in their fourth time in the tournament.

They started with a 1-0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia, before coming back to earth with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Germany in Toronto, thanks to conceding the winner in the fourth minute of added time.

But the Elephants finished on a high, beating Curaçao 2-0 in Philadelphia. They finished second in Group E behind Germany.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:57am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:57am

The anthems get a workout in Dallas

By Andrew McGarry

This is a pretty packed stadium in Arlington, and the fans are getting into the anthems.

First up is "L'Abidjanaise" (The song of Abidjan) the national anthem of Côte d'Ivoire.

Then Ja, vi elsker dette landet, the Norwegian anthem.

Both are reasonably slow, formal anthems. You have to say the Norwegian fans give their anthem a bigger belt.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:54am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:54am

How Norway got here

By Andrew McGarry

Norway is in the World Cup finals for the fourth time, and the first in 28 years.

This year is the second time (after 1998) when they made the knockout stages.

The Norwegians were in Group I, AKA the "Group of Death", alongside France, Senegal and Iraq.

They started off with a 4-1 win over Iraq in Boston to jump to the top of the group on goal difference.

They moved to New York New Jersey Stadium to face Senegal, and in a cracking encounter they started strong and then held on at the end for a 3-2 win to confirm their place in the round of 32.

The Vikings, or Landslaget as they are also known, rested a number of players - including superstar striker Erling Haaland - against France in Boston. Not surprisingly, they went down 4-1.

They still finished second in the group behind the French.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:52am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:52am

Official names are important

By Andrew McGarry

So if it is Côte d’Ivoire it must be Norge!Stop mixing the language issue up!

- Andrew

Andrew,

The difference is that FIFA officially recognises Ivory Coast as Côte d’Ivoire at the tournament.

Norway, is just known as Norway.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:49am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:49am

The Viking Row arrives in Arlington

By Andrew McGarry

The Norwegian fans have become famous at this World Cup for introducing everyone in the US and Mexico to the phenomenon that is the Viking Row.

I mean, it's great that the fans are getting some exercise in - can't just leave it to the players!

The fans have been getting stuck in around Arlington ahead of this game. Will they be doing this in celebration in a couple of hours' time?

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:46am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:46am

Côte d'Ivoire's line-up against Norway

By Andrew McGarry

The Elephants have made two changes to the side that beat Curaçao. Defender Christopher Operi comes out and Ghislain Konan comes in.

Emmanuel Agbadou is also in.

The Côte d'Ivoire midfield remains at full strength, with veteran Franck Kessie combining with big transfer target and speed merchant Yan Diomande along with Ibrahim Sangare.

Young midfielder Christ Inao Oulaï comes in to beef things up in the middle of the park, with forward Ange Yoan Bonny and Nicolas Pépé — who scored both goals against Curaçao.

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:38am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:38am

Norway's line-up to face Côte d'Ivoire

By Andrew McGarry

Norway may have rested a heap of players for the game against France, but now we're in the knockouts and it's win or go home.

There is one injury change, with defender Julian Ryerson out and Marcus Pedersen — who opened the scoring against Senegal - coming in.

The midfield is back to full-strength, with Patrick Berg, playmaker Martin Ødegaard and Sandor Berge.

But the big focus will be on the forward line - with Golden Boot candidate Erling Haaland back in the striker spot, supported by the pacy Antonio Nusa on the left, and tall target Alexander Sorloth on the right.

Key Event

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:25am

Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 2:25am

Welcome!

By Andrew McGarry

Hello and a very (very) early good morning folks, and welcome to another day of World Cup knockout football!

We can't promised dramatics to match yesterday's stoppage-time winner followed by two crazy penalty shootouts.

But what we do have is a fascinating set of match-ups to take you through the next 10-11 hours or so (pace yourselves, people!).

First up we go to Dallas Stadium in Arlington, where Côte d'Ivoire takes on Norway (3am AEST, 2:30am ACST, 1am AWST).

Then we shift to New York New Jersey Stadium, where Cup favourites France take on the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of the tournament, Sweden (7am AEST, 6:30am ACST, 5am AWST).

And then we wrap things up with a tasty clash at Mexico City Stadium (or Estadio Azteca), where co-hosts Mexico take on Ecuador.

I'm Andrew McGarry, and I'm delighted to be taking you through the early part of today's action.

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