Ahead of the Brazil vs Norway clash, Solbakken is not intimidated by the renowned reputation of the Samba Team.

Norway national team head coach Stale Solbakken has instructed his players not to feel inferior when facing Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. This fixture is scheduled to be held at New York Stadium, United States on Monday, 6 July 2026.

According to Solbakken, the squad must set aside Brazil's reputation as a global football giant and focus fully on the match that will play out on the pitch.

"We have to play the football match, not the occasion. We must ensure we do not get carried away by the magnitude of this moment, instead only focus on executing our game properly," Solbakken stated, as quoted on the official FIFA website on Sunday, 5 July 2026.

Norway progressed to the knockout stage with strong confidence, having secured three wins from four matches at the 2026 World Cup. This consistent form has established them as one of the surprise breakout teams of the tournament.

Erling Haaland's clinical finishing has also been a critical factor behind Norway's impressive run. The star striker has already scored five goals, ranking him among the top goalscorers of the competition.

While he accepts Brazil are rightfully considered favourites for the tie, Solbakken assessed that the quality gap between the two teams is no longer as wide as it was several years ago. He is optimistic Norway can mount a serious challenge if they maintain their peak performance.

"I do not believe they are such overwhelming favourites anymore, not like they would have been a few years back. We have been on a very strong run for a long period now, we carry high confidence, and we have an effective playing style when in possession," he commented.

"Most importantly, we are capable of making life very difficult for Brazil if we play to our full ability. That said, we absolutely have to perform at our absolute highest level. If we do not, we will have no chance at all," added the 58-year-old coach.

Alongside preparing his side's match mentality, Solbakken is also devoting special focus to the threat posed by Vinicius Junior. He noted that the Brazilian winger cannot be stopped by a single full-back alone, and will require coordinated defensive work from the entire team.

"We are counting on our zonal defensive system to provide support for whoever is operating on that flank of our backline," Solbakken explained.

On the other hand, Solbakken confirmed Norway will not adopt a passive approach, even against one of the tournament's title favourites. He wants his side to continue maximising Haaland's role as their attacking focal point.

"Across 90 minutes, or even 120 minutes if required, there will naturally be periods where we have to defend. When those moments arrive, that is when we need to perform at our very best," he stated.

Notably, Norway also hold a positive head-to-head record ahead of this tie. Across four previous meetings against Brazil, the Scandinavian nation has never suffered a defeat.

Even so, Solbakken stressed that this historical record will mean nothing if his players fail to deliver their best performance during this do-or-die 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match.