The countdown to the 2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
The final knockout round spot from Group A at the 1998 World Cup was on the line during the last group stage matches. Norway had two points, while Morocco and Scotland sat on one point with Brazil easily winning the group after two victories. It was all up for grabs with a date against Italy in the Round of 16 on the line.
It was looking quite comfortable for Morocco, which built a 2-0 lead on Scotland early in the second half after goals from Salaheddine Bassir and Abdeljalil Hadda. Bassir would add a third in the 85th minute to ensure the win and put Morocco on four points. Over in Marseille, Norway faced a tall task after Bebeto beat Frode Grodås to put Brazil up 1-0 in the 78th minute. Norway needed to win with Morocco cruising in their match.
In the 83rd minute, Tore André Flo delivered a lifeline with his only goal of the tournament. The live table with 12 minutes to play read:
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2nd: Morocco, 4 points
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3rd: Norway, 3 points
One more goal was needed for Norway to leap-frog Morocco.
Flo wouldn’t score again, but he played a role in the dramatic finish. Júnior Baiano pulled down the Norway striker, causing referee Esfandiar Baharmast to call a late penalty kick.
Up stepped Kjetil Rekdal, who beat Cláudio Taffarel to put Norway up 2-1 in the dying moments of the match.
Norway hung on in stoppage time to secure the win and take the second spot in the group and advance to the Round of 16.
Norway will participate in its fourth-ever World Cup this summer. It has reached the Round of 16 on two previous occasions and only failed to advance in 1994 after all four teams in its group finished with four points, but missed out on a goals scored tiebreaker.
