Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Norway

Get the lowdown onevery team at the 2026 World Cup. Here we take a closer look at Norway.

What can I expect from Norway?

Twenty-eight years after their last men's World Cup appearance, Norway are back – and a force to be reckoned with.

Their blistering qualifying form, coupled with the presence of household names like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, has led this side to be dubbed Norway's 'Golden Generation'.

At the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, Norway relied on long-ball tactics, but boss Stale Solbakken, a player at France '98, favours a more cultured approach.

He has gradually built a side that uses its technical ability to control games and, despite being top-heavy with attacking talent, still retains balance.

Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth often drifts to the right wing out of possession but joins Haaland in the box when the team wins the ball, with Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson instead providing width on that flank.

What are Norway's strengths?

Good centre-forwards are like gold dust at international level and the Norwegians have three - Haaland, Sorloth and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

They are also benefiting from having a settled side, with seven players starting every qualifier.

Norway are also the joint tallest team at this World Cup, which could be a decisive factor at set-pieces.

And what about their weaknesses?

Norway conceded only five goals in qualifying but defence may be a slight concern.

Wolves left-back David Moller Wolfe started just 11 league games this term and Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland began only five, so both may be short of sharpness.

Bologna's Torbjorn Heggem and Brentford's Kristoffer Ajer are a steady centre-back pairing but expect them to be tested by Group I opponents Senegal and France.

How might Norway line up?

Which players should I look out for?

Captain for both club and country, Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, 27, is the team's creative heartbeat. Despite only playing five of eight qualifiers, he assisted seven goals – more than any other player in Europe.

RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa, 21, was labelled 'The Norwegian Neymar' when he made his first-team breakthrough. He lived up to that nickname with 27 successful dribbles in qualifying - more than any other European except Jeremy Doku.

All-action right-back Julian Ryerson, 28, is one of three Norwegians to play every minute in qualifying. His delivery from wide positions could be crucial - he assisted 18 goals in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund this season.

Who is Norway's head coach?

Stale Solbakken says Norway's quality means they can "feel confident imposing a more attacking approach even against traditionally stronger nations".

A midfielder who won 58 caps, he had to retire from playing after a heart attack in 2001 that left him clinically dead for seven minutes.

The 58-year-old, who had a brief spell at Wolves earlier in his managerial career, took charge of Norway in December 2020 following seven years at Copenhagen.

How did Norway qualify?

The Norwegians won all eight games, including two against Italy. They are only the sixth European side to finish with a 100% winning record in a World Cup qualifying campaign involving six matches or more.

Where can I watch Norway?

All of Norway's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!

Give me a fact to impress my friends

Six teams that made it to the 2026 World Cup - Ecuador, Paraguay, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa - scored fewer goals in qualifying than Norway's Erling Haaland, who netted 16.

Now give me some proper detail

After more than two decades in the doldrums, Norway are reaping the benefits of the patience shown to head coach Stale Solbakken.

Having overseen failed qualifying campaigns for the 2022 World Cup and the last Euros, his job was under threat as recently as 20 months ago.

When his side was thrashed 5-1 by Austria in October 2024, and the team's high defensive line was repeatedly exposed, an online poll found only 18% of supporters wanted him to stay on. But his bosses kept the faith and were spectacularly rewarded.

No team qualified for this World Cup in more style than Norway, who finished with eight wins from eight after thrashing Italy 4-1 at the San Siro in their final game.

England were similarly flawless, but no one in Europe came close to matching the Norwegians when it came to finding the back of the net.

Solbakken's side scored 37 times, eight more than any other team, with their average of 4.63 goals per game the highest ever by a European nation in a World Cup qualifying campaign featuring more than four matches.

The driving force behind their unprecedented scoring was Erling Haaland, who netted 16 times, the most by any player from any continent in 2026 qualifying.

He averaged a goal every 44 minutes, scored with 39% of his shots and over-performed his expected goals total by more than six. None of his strikes were penalties – in fact, he missed his only spot-kick.

How have Norway done at previous World Cups?

This is Norway's fourth World Cup appearance and their first since 1998. Their only victories came in group matches against Mexico in 1994 and Brazil in 1998.