England are through. Bellingham made sure of it.
England are into the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after beating Norway 2-1 after extra time on Saturday, and it was Jude Bellingham, again, who got them there. The Real Madrid midfielder scored both goals in a quarter-final that England did not make look easy, and few inside Miami Stadium expected them to.
Norway had the better of the opening exchanges and deserved their lead. Andreas Schjelderup finished smartly after Erling Haaland's clever hold-up play dragged two English defenders out of position, and for a spell it looked like the shock of the tournament was on. England needed something, and with the board about to go up for four minutes of added time, Bellingham found space at the back post to level things before the break. It was scrappy rather than spectacular, the kind of goal that matters more for what it does to a game's momentum than how it looks on a highlights reel.
The second half went by without a goal, both sides cautious, both managers clearly nervous about throwing away a World Cup quarter-final with a rash decision. Extra time arrived and England, fresher looking after their round of 16 win over Mexico gave them an extra day's rest, finally found the breakthrough. A loose ball fell to Bellingham inside the box and he did not need a second invitation, poking it home from close range for his second of the night and his fourth goal of the tournament in as many appearances that mattered.
The only blemish on an otherwise disciplined night was Kristoffer Ajer's booking in extra time, shown for dissent after a foul on Jordan Pickford that he felt should never have been given. It was the sole yellow card of the match, which given how much was riding on discipline for both squads, tells you plenty about how the players approached it.
Bellingham's tournament, in numbers
This was not a one-off. Bellingham scored in England's opening win over Croatia, then took the game away from Mexico almost single-handedly in the round of 16 with two goals inside three first-half minutes, a performance he later called the proudest moment of his England career. Add Saturday's brace and he now has five goals from four matches, arguably the single biggest reason England are still standing while several fancied sides have already gone home. Transport for London even renamed the Bellingham station on the Thameslink line in his honour earlier in the tournament, which tells you where public sentiment sits.
Who's next, and when
England now face the winner of Argentina and Switzerland in the semi-final, scheduled for Wednesday 15 July in Atlanta with an 8pm kick-off. Both Bellingham and Declan Rice went into the Norway game one booking away from a suspension under FIFA's revised card-reset rules for the 48-team format, and neither picked one up, so Gareth Southgate has his strongest available squad to choose from regardless of who comes through from Kansas City.
What the bookmakers make of it
England's odds to lift the trophy have shortened noticeably since reaching the last four, though they remain behind the tournament's most fancied sides. Here is how the outright and semi-final markets compare across the major African bookmakers as things stand.
| Market | Bet9ja | SportyBet | 1xBet | Betway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England to win World Cup 2026 | 6.50 | 6.20 | 6.00 | 6.40 |
| England to beat Argentina (if drawn) | 3.20 | 3.10 | 3.00 | 3.15 |
| England to beat Switzerland (if drawn) | 1.85 | 1.80 | 1.78 | 1.82 |
| Jude Bellingham to score anytime in semi-final | 3.50 | 3.40 | 3.30 | 3.45 |
Those numbers move fast once the Argentina-Switzerland result is confirmed, so treat them as a snapshot rather than gospel, and always check the live odds on your bookmaker's app before placing anything.
For bettors in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and beyond, the semi-final against either side is likely to be the most heavily backed English match of the tournament so far. Bet9ja and SportyBet have both flagged it as a priority market, and 1xBet's cash-out tool is worth having switched on given how cagey this England side have been in knockout football all summer, Saturday's extra-time slog being the clearest example yet.
Responsible betting
The temptation with a run like this is to keep adding to the same bet, chasing a bigger return off the back of Bellingham's form. Resist it. Set a stake you are comfortable losing before kick-off, treat any winnings as a bonus rather than a target, and step away if betting stops being fun. If gambling ever feels like it is becoming a problem, BeGambleAware and Gambling Therapy both offer free, confidential support.
FAQ
Who scored England's goals against Norway?
Jude Bellingham scored both of England's goals, equalising in first-half stoppage time and scoring the extra-time winner from close range.
Who will England play in the World Cup 2026 semi-final?
England will face the winner of Argentina against Switzerland, with the semi-final scheduled for Wednesday 15 July in Atlanta, kicking off at 8pm.
Was anyone sent off or suspended after the Norway game?
No England or Norway player was sent off. Norway's Kristoffer Ajer picked up the only yellow card of the match, and neither Jude Bellingham nor Declan Rice, both one booking away from a ban, was cautioned, so England have their full squad available for the semi-final.
How many goals has Jude Bellingham scored at the World Cup 2026?
Bellingham has scored five goals in four appearances, including the opener against Croatia, both goals in the round of 16 win over Mexico, and both in the quarter-final win over Norway.
If you fancy getting involved, head to sifufinds.com to compare live semi-final odds across every major bookmaker before you stake a penny.
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