Norway to win Women’s World Cup 2023 odds: Confirmed squad, best players, line-up and form
Norway will be hoping they can put the humiliations of Euro 2022 firmly behind them when they feature at the Women’s World Cup.
Placed among the dark horses for the European Championships last year, Norway crashed out of the group stage with just one win from their three games, also being thrashed 8-0 by England in a real shock scoreline. One year on, Norway once again have a number of good players, and Hege Riise will be hoping she can get the best out of them in search of a second World Cup trophy.
Latest Norway odds to win the Women’s World Cup
Betting Market | Odds |
Norway to win the Women’s World Cup | 100/1 |
Norway to reach semi-finals | 9/1 |
Sophie Haug to win Golden Boot | 20/1 |
*You have to be 18+ to gamble. All odds within this article are accurate at the time of writing (15:15, 04/08/2023). GambleAware.
Our recommended Norway bet for Women’s World Cup
Norway’s route to the Women’s World Cup Final
Group Stage fixtures
Fixture | Stadium | Date |
New Zealand 1-0 Norway | Eden Park | 20 July, 8am BST |
Switzerland 0-0 Norway | Waikato Stadium | 25 July, 9am BST |
Norway vs Philippines | Eden Park | 30 July, 8am BST |
Who could Norway meet in the knockout rounds?
Finishing runners-up in Group A, Norway face Group C winners Japan and they’ll need to improve if they are to win that tie. Should they do so, it’d be the winner of Group G or Group E’s runners-up, either Sweden or USA — the latter a meeting of the first two Women’s World Cups and a repeat of the first ever final, which the USWNT won 2-1 in 1991.
Then, in all likelihood it’d be Netherlands or Spain in the semi-finals, and the final would likely bring England or France.
Route as Group A runners-up | Potential Opponent |
Round of 16 | Japan |
Quarter-Final | USA |
Semi-Final | Netherlands |
Final | England |
Confirmed Norway Women’s World Cup squad
Player Name | Position | Age | Club |
Guro Pettersen | Goalkeeper | 31 | Valerenga |
Aurora Mikalsen | Goalkeeper | 27 | Brann |
Cecile Fiskerstrand | Goalkeeper | 27 | LSK Kvinner |
Maren Mjelde | Defender | 33 | Chelsea |
Anja Sonstevold | Defender | 31 | Inter Milan |
Guro Bergsvand | Defender | 29 | Brighton |
Tuva Hansen | Defender | 27 | Bayern Munich |
Marit Bratberg Lund | Defender | 25 | Brann |
Sara Horte | Defender | 22 | Rosenborg |
Mathilde Harviken | Defender | 21 | Rosenborg |
Guro Reiten | Midfielder | 28 | Chelsea |
Vilde Boe Risa | Midfielder | 28 | Manchester United |
Amalie Eikeland | Midfielder | 27 | Reading |
Ingrid Syrstad Engen | Midfielder | 25 | Barcelona |
Frida Maanum | Midfielder | 24 | Arsenal |
Thea Bjelde | Midfielder | 23 | Valerenga |
Julie Blakstad | Midfielder | 21 | Manchester City |
Emilie Haavi | Forward | 31 | Roma |
Caroline Graham Hansen | Forward | 28 | Barcelona |
Ada Hegerberg | Forward | 28 | Lyon |
Karina Saevik | Forward | 27 | Avaldsnes |
Sophie Roman Haug | Forward | 24 | Roma |
Anna Josendal | Forward | 22 | Rosenborg |
Norway players to watch at this year’s Women’s World Cup
Norway World Cup Golden Boot contender – Ada Hegerberg
Last year marked the return of Ada Hegerberg to international football after a five-year protest due to a dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation over their treatment of women’s football in the country. Many expected Hegerberg to set the continent alight at Euro 2022 but she did not find the net as Norway as a whole struggled. But appearing in her first World Cup since 2015, Hegerberg will hit the world stage once again and you can bank on her getting amongst the goals. Still only 27, Hegerberg has scored 43 goals for Norway and will be hoping to climb up the list of the nation’s top scorers — a list she would no doubt already be top of if she didn’t take a break. Hegerberg did have a tough 2022/23, struggling with injuries, but she made her return at just the right time for Norway, scoring four goals in five league games towards the end of the season as Lyon secured the title. Injuries have struck once again at the World Cup though.
Norway player to watch – Caroline Graham Hansen
Norway really do have a lot of stars, including Guro Reiten and Frida Maanum, both of whom thrived in the WSL last season. But Caroline Graham Hansen is on a level of her own. One of the best players in the world, even though she always seems to miss out when it comes to awards, there is no stopping Graham Hansen when she is on form, as shown by her two goals in Barcelona’s 2-1 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final — en route to winning the tournament. Also dealing with injury issues last season, Graham Hansen still managed to score 11 goals and record six assists in the Liga F as well as two goals and three assists in the Champions League.
Norway emerging player to look out for – Anna Josendal
There may be a couple of younger players called up by Norway for the World Cup, but they are more established names in the squad, while Anna Josendal is a fresher face. The 22-year-old forward only made her senior Norway debut last year, called up just before the European Championships and then being named in the squad for the tournament. She has gone on to play eight times for Norway, including a very brief cameo in the 4-1 win over Northern Ireland at Euro 2022. Josendal will be hoping for more involvement this time around and could bring something from the bench.
Norway tactical analysis & formation at the World Cup
Although Norway often line up in a 4-3-3, it can be a lot more attacking, especially when you look at who they line up in the midfield. While Vilde Boe Risa is used to playing a deeper role, Guro Reiten and Frida Maanum are very much attack-minded players. Reiten plays as a winger for Chelsea, while Maanum has been the No.10 for Arsenal, sometimes even the main attacking threat as shown by her nine WSL goals (Reiten recorded a league-high 11 assists). Both have been pretty stifled in midfield so far, hampering Norway going forward.
In the attack, Ada Hegerberg led the line through the middle against New Zealand but Sophie Haug has come in for her lately, with Caroline Graham Hansen on one flank and Emilie Haavi on the other. The back four pretty much pick themselves right now, especially with Maria Thorisdottir ruled out due to injury. Maren Mjelde ended the 2022/23 season in excellent form for Chelsea playing at centre-back and should continue their for Norway, though she does also push forward to be the No.6, giving Hege Riise options. Her centre-back partner has been Mathilde Harviken, with Tuva Hansen and Thea Bjelde the full-backs.
Where are Norway in the FIFA world rankings?
Norway are currently 12th in the FIFA world rankings, sitting between Japan and Denmark.
Who is the Norway manager?
Hege Riise is the current Norway manager, replacing Martin Sjorgren after Euro 2022. Some fans may remember Riise for her short spell in charge of England and Team GB.
Who is the current Norway captain?
Maren Mjelde is the current Norway captain.
How many times have Norway won the World Cup?
Norway are one of just four teams to win the Women’s World Cup, doing so in 1995 when they beat Germany 2-0 in the final.
How many times have Norway competed in the World Cup?
Norway have been ever-present at the World Cup, with 2023 being their ninth appearance at the tournament.
Who has scored Norway’s most goals in World Cup tournaments?
Ann Kristin Aarones has scored more World Cup goals than any other player in Norway’s history, with 10 across 1995 and 1999.