England secured a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, setting up a semi-final clash with reigning champions Argentina. The match, played in Miami, saw Jude Bellingham score twice, including the winner, but was marred by controversy over a disallowed Norway goal.
Controversy and complaints
Norway had a goal by Torbjorn Heggem ruled out after a VAR review determined that Erling Haaland had pushed England's Elliot Anderson at a corner. Alf-Inge Haaland, father of the Manchester City striker and a former Leeds midfielder, took to social media to express his frustration. In response to a post by journalist Henry Winter, Haaland senior wrote: "Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today." He also posted sarcastically about Bellingham's winner: "Well done Bellingham and referee."
Norway's complaints were not limited to the disallowed goal. Some fans and pundits questioned whether Bellingham's first goal should have stood, suggesting the ball may have hit a camera cable before reaching him. However, FIFA has not commented on the incident.
England's path to the semi-finals
Thomas Tuchel's side have now needed extra time in three consecutive knockout matches, having previously beaten the Democratic Republic of Congo and co-hosts Mexico. Despite the struggles, Tuchel expressed his enjoyment of the tournament. "It's intense. I'm enjoying it a lot. I feel very alive in these moments," he said. "To lead a team out on the field and to be there... I don't want to be anywhere else in the world in these minutes."
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who made his 18th World Cup appearance, surpassing Peter Shilton's record for England, remained focused on the team's goal. "First and foremost it is more about the team like I always talk about. To get to another semi-final, we are at that stage where we need to keep going," Pickford said. "The record is a great honour for myself and my family, but we are here for a team game."
FIFA expansion plans
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has floated the idea of expanding the World Cup further to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. In an interview with Swiss outlet Bluewin, Infantino said: "That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup. When organising a World Cup, it's important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America – but effectively the entire world." The 2026 edition is the first with 48 teams, up from 32 in previous tournaments.
Infantino called the 48-team format a "huge success," noting that "every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point. Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage." The 2030 tournament will be a multi-continent effort, with matches in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
Semi-final preview
England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. Argentina needed extra time to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in their quarter-final. The match promises to be a blockbuster, with both teams possessing significant individual quality but also defensive vulnerabilities. England will rely on Jude Bellingham's form, while Argentina will look to Lionel Messi for inspiration.
