Number of past World Cup appearances: 3
Best Performance: Top 16 (1938, 1998)
First appearance: 1938 (France)
Top goal scorer: Ketil Rekdal (2)
Most appearances: Henning Berg, Stig Inge Bjorneby, Ketil Rekdal (7)
Player to watch: Erling Haaland
FIFA World Ranking: 31st
Norway has not played in a World Cup since 1998. Because generations of fans have had to endure a series of near misses and wet squibs.
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But the Norwegian team, featuring superstar Erling Haaland and a host of other talented players, topped their qualifying group with eight wins out of eight, including a goal conceded home and away to Italy.
Not only is the Scandinavian nation finally back in the World Cup, but this time they’re aiming to go all the way, if not all the way.
The squad was announced on Thursday in a video by King Harald V, who said his country had been “waiting for a long time” to return to the World Cup.
“Hope lives on on gravel roads, lawns and artificial turf… across long distances, ferries and mountain passes,” he said.
Haaland emulates his father
The Man City striker went on a rampage in qualifying, scoring five goals and providing two assists in an 11-1 win over Moldova. He also scored a hat-trick in Norway’s 5-0 win over Israel, making him the fastest player in history to reach 50 international goals in just 46 appearances.
Haaland’s domestic season was once again prolific with goals, even when he was in form and started, winning the Premier League Golden Boot again with 27 goals.
The 25-year-old became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals after just 111 appearances.
Haaland has drawn further personal inspiration from the tournament, as his father played in the last World Cup in the United States back in 1994.
The only concerns will be his fitness and freshness after a long and tough season and whether he has enough creativity behind him to unleash the most elite defenses.
Odegaard’s fitness raises concerns
Norway’s most creative force is Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, but the playmaker has endured an injury-plagued season.
Odegaard has suffered at least five injuries that have limited his ability to play this season and forced him to miss a friendly against Norway in March.
If Odegaard is healthy and has a good game, Haaland won’t have to worry too much about his serve. Odegaard’s morale must be extremely high after Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
But without him, Norway loses an important creative link between midfield and attack.
supporting cast
Of course, there’s much more to Norway than the double act of Haaland and Odegaard.
“I believe we have a strong team, a team that has achieved great results over a long period of time,” said coach Stahle Solbakken.
RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa, 20, is poised to break out in the tournament if he can find opportunities to impress with his pace and talent.
Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth is a physically imposing goalscorer who can complement or replace Haaland if needed, while Crystal Palace’s Jorgen Strand Larsen is also a highly-rated attacker.
Man City’s Oscar Bobb looks like a very talented attacker, but his initial breakthrough was cut short by a nasty injury and he is yet to fully find himself in the Premier League.
Since Solbakken took over in 2020, Norway have played high-pressing, possession-based football, but the team is also adept at counterattacking with lightning-fast transitions.
There are probably questions as to whether Norway’s defense can withstand the most elite of attacks, as their defense has rarely been overly tested in recent matches.
Which team will be in Norway’s group at the World Cup?
Group I is probably the toughest group in the World Cup, with France and Senegal set to pose tough tests and Iraq potentially turning into a banana peel.
The opening game against Iraq must be won before a difficult challenge against Senegal. Senegal boasted a rock-solid defense and a blisteringly fast attack, lifting the African Cup of Nations trophy in January.
Norway’s final group stage game could feature a tantalizing striker showdown between Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappé.
If both teams have already qualified, it may be tempting to rest players to protect them for a potentially long tournament, but a win in the group could give them a huge advantage in terms of who awaits them in the first knockout tournament. And with such a strong group, a spot may still be up in the air heading into that game.
Norway group match at the World Cup
⚽ Tuesday, June 16: Group I: Iraq vs. Norway (Foxboro, Mass.), 6 p.m. ET/2200 GMT
⚽ Monday, June 22: Group I: Norway vs. Senegal (East Rutherford, NJ), 8pm ET/0000 GMT
⚽ Friday, June 26: Group I: Norway vs. France (Foxboro, Mass.), 3:00 p.m. ET/1900 GMT
Al Jazeera predictions
Last 16.
Playing against a truly elite team could reveal Norway’s limitations early on.
Norway’s 2026 World Cup National Team
Goalkeepers: Orjan Hashold Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tanvik (Hamburger SV).
Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), David Moller-Wolf (Wolverhampton), Fredrik Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt), Christopher Ajer (Brentford), Torbjorn Hegem (Bologna), Leo Schiri Ostigard (Genoa), Sondrelangas (Derby County), Henrik Falchener (Vikings).
Midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Fredrik Orsnes (Benfica), Patrik Berg (Bodo/Glimt), Christian Tolstovedt (Sassuolo), Morten Tolsby (Cremonese), Thero Asgaard (Rangers).
Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Oskar Bobb (Fulham), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt).
