Norway and Brazil headed into the 2026 World Cup with contrasting expectations.
Norway, who are playing in world football’s most prestigious competition for the first time since 1998, and only the fourth time in their history, are regarded by many as potential dark horses.
Brazil, on the other hand, are the most successful nation in World Cup history, and they were naturally one of the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way once again in this summer.
Both teams performed well in the group stages. Brazil finished top of Group C, winning their World Cup group for a record 17th time. Norway finished second in Group I, winning their first two games before losing 4-1 to France.
In their first knockout stage assignment, both sides had to rely on late winners to seal passage to Round of 16. Erling Haaland added to his national hero status with another huge goal, scoring a 86th minute winner against the Ivory Coast, while Gabriel Martinelli sent his country through with an injury-time dagger against Japan.
The two countries will now lock horns in the Round of 16 clash at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.
Naturally, for Norway fans this is both exciting and tense at the same time but they remain confident.
One particular meme has gone viral as it shows a large whale, representing Norway, swallowing other, comparatively smaller predators one by one.
Brazil gets swallowed by England, who in turn get ingested by France.
Brazil, France and England are the three teams who are considered the strongest favourites to win this year’s World Cup.
The meme ends with Norway consuming the trio of countries with one big gulp.
NO ESTÁN PREPARADOS. 🇳🇴⚔️ pic.twitter.com/lzuwUionLd
— Fútbol Noruego (@NoruegArg) June 30, 2026
Norway is heavily associated with whales, both through a highly popular, booming whale-watching industry and as one of the very few nations that still permits commercial whaling.
Though it appeared the Norwegian supporters had emphatically made their point with the viral video, a Brazilian fans are having the last laugh while at the expense of bodyshaming one of their most important players – Casemiro.
Brazil fans are editing Casemiro into an even bigger beast that consumes the Norway whale.
https://t.co/MbBt78QxHz pic.twitter.com/cedlNQzyAC
— Planeta do Flamengo 🌎 (@fla_infos) July 1, 2026
Casemiro’s importance for Brazil on the field has been clear for all to see this summer. Coming off a solid season with Manchester United, the midfield enforcer has formed a formidable partnership in the centre of the park with Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta.
In the game against Japan, Casemiro drew criticism at the end of the first half. Many were of the opinion that he was at fault for Japan’s goal, diving in to try winning the ball from Kaishu Sano but failing to do so, which in turn gave the Mainz midfielder space to rifle in a low shot from the edge of the box.
Just like the events that unfolded on social media, however, the veteran had the last laugh, as he scored a bullet header to level the game in the 56th minute, before Brazil eventually sealed victory in dramatic fashion.
