With just 41 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, we're taking a trip down memory lane to one of the tournament's most dramatic group-stage finishes. In 1998, Norway pulled off a stunning late comeback against Brazil that not only secured their spot in the knockout rounds but also dashed Morocco's hopes of advancing.
The stage was set in Group A, where Brazil had already clinched the top spot with two wins. Norway entered the final matchday with two points, while Morocco and Scotland each had one. Everything was on the line, with a Round of 16 matchup against Italy as the prize.
Morocco looked like they had it all figured out. They built a commanding 2-0 lead over Scotland early in the second half, thanks to goals from Salaheddine Bassir and Abdeljalil Hadda. Bassir added a third in the 85th minute to seal the win, putting Morocco on four points—seemingly enough to advance.
Meanwhile, in Marseille, Norway faced an uphill battle. Brazil's Bebeto beat goalkeeper Frode Grodås in the 78th minute to put the five-time champions up 1-0. With Morocco cruising, Norway desperately needed a win to leapfrog them in the standings.
Enter Tore André Flo. The towering striker delivered a lifeline in the 83rd minute, scoring his only goal of the tournament. But one goal wasn't enough—Norway needed another to overtake Morocco on goal difference.
Flo wouldn't find the net again, but he made his presence felt in the box. With time running out, Brazil's Júnior Baiano pulled Flo down, and referee Esfandiar Baharmast pointed to the spot. Up stepped Kjetil Rekdal, who calmly beat legendary goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel to put Norway ahead 2-1 in the dying moments.
Norway held on through stoppage time, securing a dramatic victory and claiming the second spot in Group A. For Morocco, it was a heartbreaking exit despite their dominant win over Scotland.
This summer, Norway returns to the World Cup for the fourth time in their history. They've reached the Round of 16 on two previous occasions, with their only group-stage exit coming in 1994 when all four teams finished with four points and Norway missed out on a goals-scored tiebreaker. As the 2026 tournament approaches, fans will be hoping for more of that 1998 magic.