After taking the lead at the Miami Stadium, Norway conceded the equaliser in first half-stoppage time when Jude Bellingham collected a pass from Anthony Gordon and sliced through the defence to power a shot past the Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

TV replays showed that Nyland’s goal-kick which started the phase of play had hit an overhead television cable and landed at the feet of the England midfielder Elliot Anderson who pushed the ball onto Gordon. If the deviation had been spotted, play would have been called back.

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“Yes, it was unlucky for us that the ball changed direction,” said Solbakken.

“But we can’t do anything about that. I don’t think we’ll be playing the game again, so that’s how it is.”

Norway also had a goal ruled out that would have given them a 2-1 lead.

Haaland at fault before goal

Star striker Erling Haaland was adjuged to have pushed Anderson to the ground in the build-up to Torbjorn Heggem’s strike in the 57th minute.

“Most of the luck was against us,” Solbakken added. “But luck was on our side against Brazil in the last round but that’s just how it is.

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“That’s part of football too. And so perhaps we need a bit of luck to beat the very best teams in the world – teams like Brazil and England, who are among the top five in the Fifa rankings and are the best.

“We have to accept it and respect it, and recognise that those in the officials’ box are doing their best, and that they thought it was a free-kick.”

Best performance at a World Cup

Norway leave the 2026 tournament with their best performance at the World Cup. In two of their three visits, they reached the last-16.

Haaland scored seven goals in four games as Norway finished the pool stages in second place behind France. They disposed of Cote d’Ivoire in the last 32 and Haaland’s two goals dispatched Brazil in the last 16

“I’m most proud that we’ve been training for the competition and in it for six and a half weeks, and that all the players and support staff have contributed in such a way that we haven’t had a dull moment,” added Solbakken.

“And I don’t think our fans back in Norway have had a bad time either.

“Once we’ve had a bit of distance from it all – even though it’s incredibly tough and difficult to come to terms with the defeat right now – I think that in a week or two, everyone will be able to agree that the summer of ’26 was actually quite alright.”