MetLife hosts the tie everyone circled — two of the tournament's most feared attacks with a quarter-final on the line. Brazil topped Group C and edged Japan 2-1, with Vinicius Junior their talisman: four goals, an xG of 2.58, ten shots on target, and a one-versus-one menace tailor-made to punish a high line. Under Ancelotti they blend that flair with a more organised, resilient structure than Brazil sides of recent memory.

Norway are the story-tellers. Erling Haaland is the joint-top scorer with five goals (xG 5.06, nine SOT), Martin Odegaard conducts, and they beat Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 to arrive here. The caveat is instructive: France exposed them once, winning 4-1, showing that an elite attack with defensive discipline can overwhelm the Norwegian back line. Brazil have exactly that profile. The market sits near a coin-flip at -110, and if Haaland gets room this could sail into extra time — but Brazil's greater depth and all-round quality should edge a high-quality game. 2-1, Vinicius the difference.