After almost a 30-year absence, Norway return to the grand stage of the World Cup finals, hoping to leave their mark on the tournament as a mid-tier nation in the outright winner picture.
The Red, White and Blue made it to the round of 16 during their last outing in the competition in 1998, falling to Italy 1-0.
However, optimism looms for the Scandinavian country, with some world-class talent at their disposal this time around, including captain Martin Odegaard and the Premier League’s leading goalscorer Erling Haaland.
Norway route to the World Cup
Norway booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup in extraordinary fashion, topping Group I in the UEFA qualifying without dropping any points.
This was made all the more impressive when you consider that they had Italy in their group. Norway came out on top against the Azzurri in both of their games by three goals and they were able to come through the group by scoring 37 times and conceding just five. Erling Haaland was the standout player in the campaign, scoring 16 goals in the eight qualifying games.
Norway World Cup 2026 fixtures
Norway kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against the Winner of the IC Path 2, Iraq, on 16th June. They then play African nation, Senegal on 22nd June before a huge final group match against France on 26th June.
READ MORE: Get the latest Norway World Cup 2026 outright odds here
Norway key players for World Cup 2026
Norway top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Erling Haaland
- Key stat: Erling Haaland scored 16 goals in just eight games in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Of course, Erling Haaland will be Norway’s main goalscoring threat at the World Cup this summer. Haaland is Norway’s top scorer of all time at just 25, finding the net 55 times in 48 caps and averaging 1.15 goals per game for his nation. This will be Haaland’s first major international tournament and, if he has a successful competition, it would cement his place as the elite striker in world football.
Norway primary playmaker: Martin Odegaard
- Key stat: Marcel Odegaard provided seven assists in 2026 World Cup qualifying, more than any other player for Norway.
Martin Odegaard is not only the captain of Norway but also the player charged with being their main creative outlet. He was key to their qualifying campaign, providing seven assists as well as contributing a goal along the way. This has continued a successful international career for Odegaard, who has four goals and 18 assists for his country, collecting 67 caps.
Norway card magnets & top tacklers: Julian Ryerson
- Key stat: Julian Ryerson committed more fouls than any other Norway player in qualifying with 13, whilst making eight successful tackles.
Julian Ryerson has been an all-action full back for both Borussia Dortmund and Norway over the past few years and his ability at making successful tackles was key for his country in securing their passage to the 2026 World Cup. Ryerson was the player that committed the most fouls in qualifying too, being penalised 13 times in eight games. He’s likely to be the first choice full back for Norway this summer and he should be watched for both successful tackles and bookings.
Norway rising star: Antonio Nusa
Antonio Nusa made his debut for Norway in August 2023 and has since won 20 caps for his country, scoring seven goals. He’s starred for RB Leipzig since his arrival in 2024, starting 37 games and scoring four times. This could prove to be a breakout tournament for Nusa and he could well live up to his billing as the ‘Norwegian Neymar’.
STAND-OUT STAT: Norway scored more goals than any other team in the UEFA qualifying section with 37 – of which Erling Haaland scored 16.
Set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Erling Haaland
- Free kicks: Martin Odegaard
- Corners: Martin Odegaard, Fredrik Aursnes
Tactical analysis and formation
Norway team stats (average per game from last four matches):
- Corners: 4.75
- Shots on target: 8.5
- Shots on target conceded: 2.0
- Offsides: 0.75
Ståle Solbakken has a talented squad to pick his starting line up from. The likes of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard fall into the world class bracket, whilst the likes of Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sorloth and Sander Berge are all established players within the top five leagues in Europe. The defence has plenty of talent, with Leo Ostigard, Julian Ryerson and Kristoffer Ajer all playing for high profile sides but the one area of weakness, and one that could stop them reaching the latter stages of the tournament, is the lack of genuine depth beyond the starting eleven.
Get the latest Norway World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here
Norway manager analysis
Ståle Solbakken has been Norway manager since 2020, when he replaced Lars Lagerback following his resignation. His record since his appointment has been impressive, with Norway winning 31 of their 52 games played under the 57-year-old. Solbakken enjoyed a successful playing career, with spells in Norway, England and Denmark as well as winning 58 caps for Norway.
This will be the first major international tournament that Solbakken has led his nation into and will be a big test as to his credentials at the top level.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ståle Solbakken | Norway | 54 | 32 | 11 | 11 | 124 | 52 | 59.26% |
Norway World Cup FAQs
Have Norway ever won the World Cup?
Norway have never won the World Cup, with two Round of 16 appearances being their best finishes.
Where did Norway finish in the last World Cup?
Norway did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, with 2026 being their first appearance since 1998.
Who will be Norway captain at the World Cup?
Martin Odegaard is set to captain Norway at the World Cup and has held the armband since March 2021.
Who is Norway’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Kjetil Rekdal is the top scorer for Norway at the World Cup, with the midfielder finding the net at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, totalling two goals.
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