Bellingham's controversial goal advances England over Norway in World Cup quarterfinal

Jude Bellingham's brace secured England's 2-1 victory over Norway and a spot in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, but his opening goal ignited a fierce debate. Norway's players argued that the ball struck a cable for the aerial SkyCam before Bellingham scored, a contact they believed should have resulted in the goal being disallowed. However, neither the on-field referee nor VAR intervened.

Adding to the controversy, FIFA later addressed the incident on social media. The organization stated that the ball's connected sensor registered no unusual "heartbeat" while it was in the air. FIFA concluded that there was no evidence the ball had touched the overhead wire or altered its trajectory, effectively validating Bellingham's controversial goal.

The match saw England advance to face a semifinal opponent, while Norway's World Cup journey concluded. The debate over the goal's legitimacy highlights the intense scrutiny and high stakes of the tournament.

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Before England’s goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the Connected Ball showed no peak in the 'heartbeat of the ball' when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball.