England reached the World Cup semi-finals for the fourth time, and the first time since 2018, after a 2-1 comeback victory over Norway inspired by two goals from Jude Bellingham. The result was overshadowed by a public disagreement between the Real Madrid star and head coach Thomas Tuchel, who dismissed the team's display as "sloppy", "lucky" and full of technical mistakes despite the win. The exchange drew attention because it exposed a rare note of friction within an England camp on the brink of reaching a first men's World Cup final on foreign soil.

Bellingham's controversial equaliser came just before half-time, after replays appeared to show a Norway goal-kick striking an overhead cable in the buildup, though Fifa said a sensor in the ball found no evidence of contact — a view Norway's coach, Ståle Solbakken, disputed. He then capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland in the third minute of extra time for his sixth goal of the tournament, level with captain Harry Kane and two behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Asked about Tuchel's criticism, Bellingham responded "Yeah, well, whatever," and argued that "sometimes you have to win dirty", while Tuchel later insisted there was "no disconnect" with his players and Kane suggested the coach's demands could be exactly what England need.