Norway striker Alexander Sorloth has been subjected to severe online abuse and death threats following his side’s dramatic 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final defeat by England.
The Atlético Madrid forward became the focus of criticism after a late attacking decision during the match, with some supporters blaming him for failing to pass to an unmarked Erling Haaland during a crucial counter-attack.
Norway were leading 1-0 at the time when Sorloth chose to shoot instead of finding Haaland, but his effort was blocked. England quickly responded by scoring an equaliser before eventually completing a 2-1 victory after extra time.
The incident triggered a wave of criticism directed at the 30-year-old striker, with the reaction escalating into online abuse and threats against him.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken strongly condemned the treatment of his player, describing the situation as unacceptable while acknowledging that such incidents have become an unfortunate feature of modern elite sport.
Speaking after Norway’s elimination at a press conference in Miami, Solbakken urged his players to avoid social media during difficult moments.
“It is tragic… That is the world we live in. I tell the boys to stay away from social media, especially on days like this,” Solbakken said.
The Norwegian coach added: “There is nothing more to say about it other than it is completely devoid of sense on every possible level,” the Norwegian tactician added.
Sorloth himself addressed the controversial moment after the match, explaining that his intention had been to pass to Haaland but that the opportunity was blocked by England defender John Stones.
“The only thing I wanted to do in that situation was to pass to Erling,” Sorloth said. “But it felt like the pass wasn’t there, so I went to shoot.”
The extent of the abuse aimed at the striker was revealed by his partner, Lena Selnes, who shared screenshots on Instagram showing a series of hateful messages directed at Sorloth.
Some of the messages included calls for the forward to harm himself, highlighting the severity of the reaction following Norway’s exit from the tournament.
The backlash has overshadowed what had been a remarkable World Cup campaign for Norway. The team exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals, marking their first appearance at that stage of the competition in their modern history.
Despite their eventual elimination by England, Norway’s run had been viewed as a significant achievement. However, the focus after their departure shifted towards the treatment of Sorloth and the wider issue of online abuse faced by footballers.
Solbakken’s comments reflected growing concerns within the sport about the impact of social media criticism on players, particularly following high-pressure matches where individual decisions can attract intense scrutiny.
The defeat against England ended Norway’s historic tournament journey, but the aftermath has been dominated by condemnation of the abuse directed at one of their key players.
Sorloth’s decision during the match remains a talking point, but the response from the Norway camp has focused on defending the striker and rejecting the extreme reaction that followed.
