2026 World Cup: Erling Haaland takes his star turn on soccer's global stage as he leads ...

Theory Briefing

• Haaland's brace against Brazil sent Norway into the quarterfinals, a result few predicted for a nation of his country's size.
• Norway's run raises the question of whether a single elite player can systematically override a team's structural limitations.
• Brazil's exit to Norway challenges the assumption that traditional soccer powerhouses hold an inherent tournament advantage.
• The spotlight on Haaland intensifies with each round — the weight of a nation's expectations now rests on one player's shoulders.