England have officially secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals for the fourth time in their history after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Norway in a thrilling encounter at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Norway took an early lead through Andreas Schjelderup, but Real Madrid talisman Jude Bellingham struck in the final minute of the first half to restore parity for the Three Lions, leaving the score locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
The breakthrough came just three minutes into the first half of extra time, as Bellingham found the back of the net once again to score England’s second goal. His sensational brace fired Thomas Tuchel’s men into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since Russia 2018.
Historically, out of their three previous semifinal appearances, England have only managed to progress to the final once—back in 1966, the historic year they clinched their sole World Cup title. The Three Lions’ last semifinal outing in 2018 ended in heartbreak, suffering an unexpected defeat against Croatia before ultimately finishing the tournament in fourth place.
England remain on a relentless quest for their first major international trophy since 1966, having recently suffered back-to-back defeats in the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals. The 2026 tournament presents the perfect opportunity for Thomas Tuchel’s squad to break the curse.
However, a daunting task awaits the English side in the semifinals, where they are set to face the winner of the highly anticipated Argentina vs. Switzerland clash next Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
