The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) issued an official statement to settle the controversy that arose over the validity of the equalizer scored by Jude Bellingham for England against Norway, in the match that ended with the 'Three Lions' winning 2-1 after extra time, in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

The Norwegian team's objection came on the grounds that the ball touched the overhead camera suspended inside the stadium before reaching Bellingham, which its players believed caused a change in its trajectory before the goal.

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FIFA responded via an official statement, in which it affirmed that the data from the smart ball technology did not detect any sudden change in the ball's movement while in flight, indicating that there is no evidence to prove it touched the wire or the overhead camera. The statement said: 'Before England's goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, the connected ball sensor showed no sudden increase in the ball's pulse, and therefore there is no proof that it touched the top wire or changed its trajectory.' The Norwegian team had taken the lead first through Andreas Schjelderup in the 36th minute, before Jude Bellingham equalized for England in first-half stoppage time.

In the second half, VAR technology disallowed a goal for Norway scored by Hegim, after a foul was called on striker Erling Haaland at the start of the play, keeping the match level until the end of regular time.

At the start of the first extra period, Bellingham snatched the winning goal in the 93rd minute, taking advantage of a rebound from the Norwegian goalkeeper, leading England to the semi-finals.

The English team is scheduled to meet in the last four with the winner of the match between Argentina and Switzerland, scheduled for Wednesday evening, as part of the 2026 World Cup.