We’re in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals and the possibility for penalties is increasing.
Four years ago, two of the four World Cup quarter-finals went all the way to penalties. Argentina knocked out the Netherlands en route to lifting the trophy, while Croatia knocked Brazil out after a shoot-out.
There have already been four penalty shootouts at this summer’s World Cup, including two by teams set to contest the quarter-finals. Norway take on England in the third quarter-final, and the latter have a history with World Cup penalty shootouts.
Some fans will be hoping it doesn’t go all the way. But if it does, who would win?
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Norway vs England penalty analysis
Norway World Cup penalty record
Remarkably, Norway are yet to have a penalty shootout in competitive football. It is somewhat understandable the more you look into it, though. This is only their second World Cup knockout stage experience, and their 1998 exit to Italy came in normal time. They’ve also only been at the European Championships once, in 2000, where they were knocked out in the group stage. And they haven’t been high enough in the Uefa Nations League to be able to qualify for the finals. Norway have, however, taken penalties in matches. They’ve already missed on at this World Cup with Jorgen Strand Larsen failing from the spot against France. Norway also scored one and missed one in qualifying for the World Cup.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Penalty shootouts contested | 0 |
| Penalty shootouts won | 0 |
| Penalty shootouts lost | 0 |
| Penalties scored | 0 |
| Penatlies missed/saved | 0 |
England World Cup penalty record
England fans do not have happy memories of World Cup penalty shootouts. Even though they did win their most recent one. The Three Lions beat Colombia on penatlies en route to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, in what was a dramatic match. But it also brought a bit of history, as England’s first World Cup penalty shootout win. They had lost their first three, a joint-record for the most consecutive shootout defeats.
The first came at Italia 90 against West Germany. England had scored their first three penalties, going toe-to-toe with West Germany in the semi-finals. But Stuart Pearce and then Chris Waddle both missed, sending England out. Eight years later, England were dumped out on penalties in the last-16, this time by Argentina. Paul Ince and David Batty were the players to miss, but the game will always be remembered more for David Beckham’s red card. And, in 2006, England only scored one of their four penalties against Portugal — thwarted by an inspired performance from Ricardo in goal.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Penalty shootouts contested | 4 |
| Penalty shootouts won | 1 |
| Penalty shootouts lost | 3 |
| Penalties scored | 11 |
| Penatlies missed/saved | 8 |
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Who will take Norway’s penalties?
All eyes will be on Erling Haaland to take some responsibilities in any potential penalty shootout. He’s the star striker and one of the best in the world in his position right now. But penalties haven’t been a guarantee for Haaland. He missed one in World Cup qualifying, though scored from the spot in a friendly last year. In matches, Haaland has still scored 57 penalties across his career, including his past five after a miss against Liverpool in November. Haaland is three from three in shootouts, including one in the Uefa Youth League.
Strand Larsen will be another eyeing up a spot in the shootout should he finish the game. And he’ll want to make up for his miss in the group stage. But the striker doesn’t have the best record, missing two of his past three in-game penalties for club and country. He has, however, scored his only penalty in a shootout.
Martin Odegaard has scored four of the five penalties taken in matches, and is perfect in three shootouts. Andreas Schjelderup does have a good record from penalties, scoring 10 of his 12 attempts in-game. That includes both of his efforts in 2025-26. He may be high up the order as Norway will try to take control.
Predicted Norway penalty order
- Martin Odegaard
- Andreas Schjelderup
- Jorgen Strand Larsen
- Thelo Aasgaard
- Erling Haaland
Who will take England’s penalties?
England do have a fair few penalty takers in their team. Obviously, Harry Kane will lead any possible penalty shootout should he finish the game. He has scored in both of his penalty shootouts for England, at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2024. Kane has also scored in three penalty shootouts at club level. And let’s not forget his 109 penalties scored in-game (compared to 14 missed), including two already at the World Cup this summer.
Jude Bellingham has also scored in his only penalty shootout for England, coolly beating Yann Sommer in the quarter-final win over Switzerland at Euro 2024. He has also scored in both of his shootouts at club level, for Real Madrid in the Champions League. Overall, Bellingham doesn’t have much experience from penalties in-game, though he has still scored four of his five.
Then there’s the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, both of whom missed in the Euro 2020 final but will not shy away from the responsibility. The latter has scored in shootouts for England since.
Predicted England penalty order
- Harry Kane
- Jude Bellingham
- Bukayo Saka
- Marcus Rashford
- Ivan Toney
Who will win if Norway vs England goes to penalties?
England have history of losing World Cup penalty shootouts — and shootouts in general. But it’s all experience from which to learn. And they appear to have that over their Norwegian counterparts.
The general quality of penalty takers might work in England’s favour too. Although there will still be a nagging doubt among the players.
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