Brazil vs Norway LIVE: Team news as Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr clash in World Cup last-16 – UK Times

We should be bringing you the confirmed line-ups from Brazil and Norway in the next few minutes.

A reminder that Brazil are set to be without Lucas Paqueta and Raphinha through injury, while Norway have no fresh concerns.

One change for Brazil, Ancelotti opts for Martinelli, instead of Neymar, with Paqueta sitting this one out.

It’ll be fascinating to see if the Arsenal forward plays close to Cunha, or in a wider berth, with Rayan and Vinicius Jr likely to hug the wings.

Brazil XI: Alisson ; Danilo, Marquinho, Gabriel, Santos; Guimaraes, Casemiro; Rayan, Vinicius; Cunha, Martinelli

Norway coach Stale Solbakken has urged his players not to get carried away with the occasion of a World Cup knockouts clash with Brazil in the hope of causing an upset.

“We need to play the match, not the circumstances,” said Solbakken. “We need to make sure that we don’t play according to the occasion, but that we simply play the game.”

He added: “I don’t think they are big, big, big favourites, which they maybe had ‌been some years ago … we have had a very good run for a ​very long time, and we have great confidence and we have a good ‌style of play with the ball as ⁠well, and I think that helps us.

“I think it’s difficult to ⁠put a precise percent (on our chances), if it’s 60-40, or 70-30 or whatever – the important thing is that we ‌can hurt Brazil on ​our day, but we still need to be ‌our very, very best, otherwise we have ​no chance. But if we are on our very, very best, then we have a chance.”

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is not about to set up an “anti Erling Haaland plan” when his side look to shackle the free-scoring Norwegian frontman tonight.

“I don’t think that there is such a thing as an ‘anti-Haaland’ plan,” Ancelotti said at a press conference. “I don’t need to tell my players how to defend, they have faced each other a few times.

“Our team is in an optimal condition. However, we need to continue improving.

“Everyone knows how he (Haaland) works. I have nothing to explain to my defenders how to play against him.

“They have obviously played against him several times, so we are only focused on being well prepared for the match, understanding the basic characteristics of the opponent and we know that they are very dangerous offensively.”

The race for the golden boot at the World Cup is hurtling towards an epic contest during the knockout stage and while Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are going tit for tat at the top of the standings, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr are very much in the conversation.

Tonight could be pivotal in either man’s pursuit of that individual accolade, with a high-scoring performance sure to propel them into that leading pack.

Here’s how the standings currently look:

1. Kylian Mbappe (France), 7 goals, (2 assists)

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 7 goals

= 3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 5 goals

= 3. Harry Kane (England), 5 goals

5. Ousmane Dembele (France), 4 goals (2 assists)

= 6. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 4 goals (1 assist)

How do Brazil and Norway stack up against the rest? Here’s where every team in the last-16 stands in The Independent’s World Cup 2026 power rankings:

England will keeping a close eye on the action tonight.

That’s because the winners will meet either the Three Lions or Mexico in a last-eight tie slated for Saturday 11 July in Miami at 10pm BST.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will of course need to beat the co-hosts at altitude in Mexico City later on to seal their place quarter-finals.

Brazil XI: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Santos; Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Fabinho; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Jr.

Norway XI: Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

Lucas Paqueta is set to miss out for Brazil having hurt a hamstring during the first half against Japan on Monday, meaning Carlo Ancelotti could opt to include young Endrick from the start unless he hands the role to old hand Fabinho. Raphinha is recovering from his hamstring issue sustained during the group stage but is unlikely to feature.

Staale Solbakken has no fresh injury concerns to contend with for Norway.

Brazil vs Norway is due to kick off at 9pm BST on Sunday 5 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 8.15pm BST. A live stream will be available via ITVX.