Miami Gardens: FIFA denies ball hit wire in England’s first goal against Norway

By Noah Lavoie — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

England advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after defeating Norway 2-1 in a match where Jude Bellingham scored both goals. The game, played in Miami Gardens, Florida, saw Bellingham net an equalizer in the first half and the go-ahead goal in the third minute of extra time. This victory marks England‘s first semi-final appearance since 2018.

Bellingham‘s performance was crucial, especially given the challenging conditions. Temperatures reached 33 degrees Celsius during warmups, and the humid Florida air seemed to affect England‘s play for significant periods. Despite the team’s struggles, Bellingham consistently provided energy and purpose.

Key Moments and Controversy

Norway took the lead in the 36th minute with a goal from Andreas Schjelderup. His shot caromed off the right post and into the net, stunning an England team that had largely dominated possession up to that point. Schjelderup, making only his second start of the tournament, had previously set up both of Erling Haaland‘s goals in Norway‘s round of 16 victory against Brazil.

Just before Bellingham‘s equalizing goal, a moment of controversy arose. Following a Norway goal kick, the ball appeared to make contact with an aerial camera cable before landing near England‘s Elliot Anderson. The ball was then played to Bellingham, who scored with a low shot past Ørjan Nyland.

According to regulations, if the ball had been confirmed to hit the cable, play would have been stopped, and a drop ball would have been used to restart. However, FIFA later stated that the sensor within the ball indicated no contact with the cable, allowing the goal to stand.

Norway nearly extended their lead in the 56th minute when Torbjørn Heggem scored after a corner kick. This goal was subsequently disallowed following a video review due to a foul by Haaland in the penalty area.

Team Performance and Player Contributions

Bellingham‘s two goals brought his tournament total to six, matching Harry Kane. He is now one goal behind Norway‘s Erling Haaland and two behind France‘s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina‘s Lionel Messi. Haaland, who had been a dominant force in previous matches, was held scoreless by England and was substituted in the second half of extra time due to fatigue and a leg injury.

England coach Thomas Tuchel expressed mixed feelings about the team’s performance. While he acknowledged the fantastic result and reaching the semi-finals, he also stated his dissatisfaction with the overall play, suggesting the team could be faster and more clinical. Bellingham, however, emphasized the difficulty of playing in the heat and humidity, praising his teammates’ effort.

The midfield was a particular area of concern for England. The central midfield pairing changed multiple times throughout the 120 minutes, moving from Declan Rice and Anderson to Bellingham and Anderson, then to Reece James and Anderson, and finally to Morgan Rogers and Anderson. Anderson‘s tireless effort was noted, as he ran and challenged for everything, covering significant ground.

Tuchel‘s decision to move Bellingham into central midfield after Declan Rice left at half-time due to illness was highlighted as a key moment. Rogers‘ introduction later in the game coincided with England regaining some control as Norway also tired. It was Rogers‘ shot that led to Bellingham‘s winning goal, after Nyland spilled the ball into his path.

England will now travel to Atlanta for their semi-final match.

Source: theguardian.com