Norway’s head coach Stale Solbakken said it is a “great honour” to face Brazil and Carlo Ancelotti in the upcoming round‑of‑16 match.
He rejected recent media claims that he had disrespected the Brazilian coach, calling the reports “unfounded”.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, with Norway hoping to build on their strong group‑stage performance.
Norway’s disciplined approach under Solbakken could make the tie a tightly contested affair against the five‑time World Cup champions.
Betting markets may adjust as Norway’s odds improve following the coach’s confident remarks, while Brazil’s odds could shorten.
Ståle Solbakken was born on 27 February 1968, he is 58 years old in 2026. He played as a midfielder. He began his senior career with Hamarkameratene, then played for Lillestrøm SK (1990‑1995), moved to Rosenborg BK (1995‑1999) and finished at FC Copenhagen (1999‑2000). He earned 58 caps and scored eight goals for the Norway senior national team.