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The countdown has begun for one of the most exciting matches so far of the World Cup 2026. England take on Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday nightHard Rock Stadium, Miami will kick off at 11pm Spanish Time. This fixture has a bit of extra spice due to a long-standing rivalry and the fact that Norway is one of the biggest surprises of this tournament. The match is touted as the most ‘must-watch’ of the competition so far.
Norway’s unlikely rise to the final eight
As reported in these pages earlier this year, Norway has reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first ever time. After finishing second behind France in their group, they produced two stunning knockout performances. Erling haaland scored a late goal to help them defeat Ivory Coast. Haaland also scored twice to help Norway defeat Brazil 2-1 in round 16. Manchester City striker Haaland now has seven goals after four matches. He is joint top on the scoring chart. Martin Odegaard also impressed with both his leadership skills and passing range. Norway was not expected to be still involved in this round, but their momentum has captured the attention far beyond Scandinavia.
Rivalry has roots in history
England and Norway never played in a major event before this past week. Norway won the 1981 World Cup Qualifier in Oslo by 2-1. The result of that match produced one of history’s most famous football commentaries. Norwegian radio man Bjørge Lillelien delivered an excitable rant that ended with the line, “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Your boys were beaten up badly! Both sides of the North Sea still smile at this moment. Recent bantering between the British Prime Minister and the Norwegian PM has kept the story going. Haaland, Odegaard and other Norwegian players are now playing in the Premier League. This adds an updated layer to this old rivalry.
England’s road to success and its ambitions
England reached the quarter-finals after a 3-2 win Mexico, the co-host, was beaten in the Round of 16. Jude Bellingham scored twice during that match. Three Lions will continue to improve after showing their toughness during tight games. Harry Kane represents the main threat to attack. The winner will be able to play in the semi-finals, and the match is scheduled in Atlanta for 15 July. England has been to this stage a number of times, but with a Haaland team in top form the task is not easy.
Football Passion on Spain’s Costas
British expats living on the Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca are already planning their viewing plans. The bars of popular areas are expecting busy nights, as fans gather in the area to watch. Social media activity among British expats shows electric enthusiasm for the fixture, as Norwegian fans did earlier in the tournament when they took over bars across the Costas with their viking ‘row’.
One Brit expat in the US wrote, X: “Expat British here. I’ve supported the USA, England and now, in recent weeks, Norway… The only problem is who to support in the next England vs Norway match!! – Either winning would be epic.”
Many fans here have said they would happily support Norway if England lost. Norwegians who live on the Costas have a similar feeling about England. In these communities, football brings people together naturally and crosses national boundaries.
Spain faces Belgium in its own quarter-final Friday evening in Los Angeles. The result of this match will influence the conversations in Spain for Saturday. The Spanish national football team is closely followed by many British expats. They see these two matches as the perfect double bill for European football on a weekend. The result of the two games will determine which teams make it into the last four.
As the World Cup enters the knockout stage, excitement continues to grow. England and Norway each have reasons to be optimistic about reaching the semi-finals. The combination of shared passion, history and surprise promises an unforgettable night for expats in Spain.
