Unbeaten Norway stand in Brazil’s way as history favours the Vikings

The two sides meet at the World Cup for only the second time, with Norway still unbeaten in the fixture

History offers little encouragement for Brazil ahead of their World Cup knockout clash with Norway, the only European side they have never beaten.

Five-time champions Brazil face the Vikings in the World Cup last 16 as they bid to reach the quarter-finals.

The match kicks off at 2am Bangladesh time on Jul 6 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Here are the key numbers:

5

Brazil and Norway meet for the fifth time in all competitions and only the second time at a World Cup. The head-to-head record offers little comfort to Brazil fans. Norway beat Brazil 2-1 at the 1998 World Cup and remain unbeaten in all four previous meetings, with two wins and two draws.

6

Brazil have lost each of their last six World Cup knockout matches against European opponents since beating Germany in the 2002 final. Those defeats came against France (2006 quarter-finals), the Netherlands (2010 quarter-finals), Germany (2014 semi-finals), the Netherlands (2014 third-place playoff), Belgium (2018 quarter-finals) and Croatia (2022 quarter-finals).

1

Norway claimed their first-ever World Cup knockout victory by beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in the last 32. Before this tournament, they had lost both previous knockout matches at major tournaments, against Italy at the 1938 and 1998 World Cups.

13

Norway striker Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last 13 competitive internationals, netting 25 goals. A goal against Brazil would make him the eighth European player to score in each of his first four World Cup matches.

4

Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes has provided four assists at this World Cup. Since records began in 1966, only Pele, with six in 1970, has registered more assists for Brazil in a single edition.