Brazil left to second-guess penalty kick choice after earliest World Cup exit since 1990

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Vinícius Júnior had the ball at the penalty spot, a perfect chance to give Brazil the lead.

And he handed it to Bruno Guimarães.

And by the time Neymar — in what he said was his final World Cup appearance — took and made Brazil's second penalty kick, it was too late for the five-time champion.

Guimarães had his penalty shot stopped by Ørjan Nyland in the 14th minute and Brazil couldn't get one past Norway's goalkeeper until deep in stoppage time, losing 2-1 on Sunday in the round of 16 for its earliest World Cup exit since 1990.

“We just have to apologize to the Brazilian people, to everyone that attended this venue and witnessed this match, and I think we have to learn from our mistakes,” Brazil captain Marquinhos said. “For those that come in the new generation, I ask that the people will support them from the beginning.”

The Brazilians will be left with four years of second-guessing, wondering why they chose not to have one of soccer’s elite scorers take the penalty shot after Matheus Cunha was taken down by a sliding tackle in the box.

No foul was called originally, to the Brazilians' protest, but the penalty was awarded after a video review. Vinícius, who came into the game leading Brazil with four goals in four games, had the ball in his hands, and it appeared he would take the kick.

Instead, Guimarães walked to the spot and Vinícius handed him the ball, then went and stood to the left of the box and watched as Guimarães stutter-stepped, then fired the shot that Nyland dived to his left to knock away.

Guimarães ended up the choice through a combination of analytics and injuries.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti explained that the Brazilians had compiled statistics on their best penalty takers for a year, and the best choices were Neymar and forward Raphinha. Guimarães was next.

But Neymar, who has battled injuries and didn't even play in Brazil's first two matches, wasn't in the game yet. Raphinha injured his hamstring last month.

“So, we chose Bruno Guimarães because we felt that he was the best on the field at that point,” Ancelotti said.

It was Brazil's first unsuccessful penalty kick in the World Cup — not counting shootouts — since 1986, and a huge boost to the belief of the Norwegians, who had never won a game in the knockout stage until the previous round.

“Obviously, when you’re able to save a penalty that early, you feel that it’s very hard to beat you, which was a great moment in the game for myself but also for the team to give ourselves some breathing space,” Nyland said.

There would be some more quality chances, but Nyland turned them away each time, many of them right in front of the large section of yellow-shirted fans behind the goal Brazil was shooting at in the first half.

Vinícius was dangerous with some speedy runs along the left side and Ancelotti brought on Neymar in the 68th minute for extra firepower. Their longtime great took and made the shot after another penalty was called late, joining Pelé as the only Brazilian players to score in four World Cups.

His team needed more than that and failed to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since falling to Argentina in the round of 16 in 1990.

The Brazilians returned four years later when the U.S. last hosted the World Cup and won. The Seleção won their fifth title in 2002 but remain empty since.

“I mean, I’ll do the mea culpa here. I’m the captain. I’m one of the older guys,” Marquinhos said. “We have to take on the blame so the next generations can move forward and do their job when it comes to time. This is a cycle that is going to start from now on. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Norway goalkeeper Oerjan Nyland (1) saves a shot by Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Norway goalkeeper Oerjan Nyland, right, defends against a kick by Brazil's Endrick, left, during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Brazil's Neymar (10) reacts after Norway's Erling Haaland (9) scored the opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil's Neymar reacts after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Norway goalkeeper Oerjan Nyland (1) saves a penalty from Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephen K.H. Moyes)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) reacts during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Norway goalkeeper Oerjan Nyland (1) saves a penalty kick by Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephen K.H. Moyes)

Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) takes a penalty kick during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) reacts during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) fails to score a penalty kick during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

DENYSHI, Ukraine (AP) — Atop a steep granite cliff overlooking a river about two hours' drive west of Ukraine's capital, hundreds of people pitched tents on a festival camping ground. By day, they climbed the rock face, swam in a reservoir or enjoyed stand-up paddling. As evening fell, live bands and DJs took over the stage as rock and electronic music drifted through the forest.

The Stoned Climbers festival, which took place last week in the Zhytomyr region, is Ukraine’s biggest outdoors event combining climbing and live music. Like many public events in wartime Ukraine, the festival blended ordinary leisure with reminders that the war is never far away.

Visitors received multiple air raid alert notifications on their phones throughout the weekend. Soldiers on leave quietly blended into the crowd, while organizers directed all profits from this year’s festival to a fundraising initiative supporting Ukraine’s Azov Brigade. Unlike last year, however, no Russian drones or missiles crossed the sky above the campsite on their way toward Kyiv.

The volunteer-run festival was launched in 2023 by about 15 friends who had spent more than a year climbing together after becoming fascinated by Yosemite’s climbing culture.

The U.S. national park has long been regarded as one of the birthplaces of modern rock climbing, where climbers built a counterculture around sleeping in tents, living out of vans and spending months on the granite walls of the valley.

“We realized climbing could be much more than just a sport,” said festival co-founder Dmytro Isaienko, 39. “It’s about a specific way of life — in nature, camping, on the rocks.”

Isaienko and his friends wanted to challenge the perception that climbing was reserved for elite athletes. Their first festival attracted about 150 visitors. This summer, attendance grew to more than 500, most of them beginners or amateur climbers.

Organizing the festival during wartime has given it a broader purpose, Isaienko said. He believes creating places where people can gather, learn new skills and spend time together has become a way of sustaining one’s well-being through a prolonged war.

“You need to get away from the war for a while,” he said. “Leave Kyiv and come spend some time here together, a little longer than usual.”

On the rocks below, instructors help complete beginners fasten their harnesses, chalk their hands and search for the next hold on the granite wall. Whenever someone reaches the top of the 25-meter (82-feet) cliff — often for the first time — spectators, instructors and climbers break into applause.

Among the festival’s newcomers was 21-year-old Liliia Karpach, who traveled from Ukraine’s western Lviv region for her first Stoned Climbers festival.

“I decided to come because it had been a very long time since I’d climbed on real rocks,” she said. “I also wanted to meet the community in person and get to know new people.”

She said climbing is mental as well as physical exercise, and hopes others will give it a try.

“If you’re really nervous about coming on your own, invite some friends,” she said. “Even if neither of you knows how to climb, you’ll have a good time together.”

Helping first-time climbers gain that confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of the festival for instructor Andrii Lamei, 24.

While belaying a young woman during her first climb, he calmly talked her through the most difficult part of the ascent. As she climbed higher, her movements became more confident. After reaching the top, Lamei encouraged her to pause before descending.

“Look around,” he shouted. “Enjoy the moment. You made it.”

“Climbing helps you work with stress,” Lamei said. “It helps you manage stressful situations in everyday life.”

He dreams of climbing outside Ukraine one day but, like most Ukrainian men, he cannot leave the country while wartime travel restrictions remain in place.

“I want to go across the border to visit Yosemite, to visit Norway's mountains, but I can’t,” he said. “But maybe this is how I’m forced to enjoy what I have here.”

For Isaienko, that is precisely why festivals like Stoned Climbers matter.

While many Ukrainians have put parts of their lives on hold during the war, he hopes the community taking shape around the cliffs shows that new traditions can still emerge.

“This is a festival for everyone,” he said. “Including people who have never tried climbing before.”

And each time another first-time climber reaches the top, the applause rising from the rocks below suggests that, little by little, that community is growing.

Women rest after climbing during the Stoned Climbers festival near Denyshi, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

People climb on a cliff during the Stoned Climbers festival near Denyshi, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A man installs a tent during the Stoned Climbers festival near Denyshi, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A woman plays a dj set during the Stoned Climbers festival near Denyshi, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A man climbs on a cliff during the Stoned Climbers festival near Denyshi, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)