Norway team profile – FIFA World Cup 2026
In the build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico, we shine a spotlight on Norway.
FIFA World Ranking: 31
Confederation: UEFA
Who is Norway’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Norway’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Stale Solbakken. The former FC Cologne, Wolves and FC Copenhagen head coach has been in charge of the Norwegian national team since December 2020 after being capped over 50 times as a player.
Who is Norway’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Norway’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Martin Odegaard, who was the youngest to ever play a senior international for Norway when first capped at the age of 15.
How many times have Norway participated in a FIFA World Cup before 2026?
3 – 1938, 1994, 1998
What is Norway’s best performance at a FIFA World Cup?
Round of 16 – 1998 (Whilst Norway have twice played in the round of 16, they qualified out of the group stage in 1998, whilst the round of 16 acted as the first round of competition in 1938.)
How did Norway qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Norway qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026 after finishing top of their group in the UEFA qualification stage. Teams were drawn into 12 groups with Norway placed in Group I alongside Italy, Israel, Estonia and Moldova.
After eight group games, Norway finished on 24 points with a perfect record of eight wins, no draws and no defeats. Only England managed to do the same. Norway were also comfortably the highest scoring side across the UEFA qualifiers, racking up 37 goals with Erling Haaland on target 16 times, double the number of his nearest competitors.
Confirmation of Norway’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification came on November 16, 2025 after a 1-4 draw away to Italy at the San Siro. Haaland scored twice in a resounding second-half performance that saw the Norwegians come from behind at half-time to score four times. Antonio Nusa and Jorgen Strand Larsen were also on the scoresheet.
Who are Norway’s star players?
In Erling Haaland (Man City), Norway have one of the best strikers in world football who will be determined to make a big impact in what is his first World Cup. A former English Premier League, German and Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Season winner, Haaland was named in the FIFA Men’s World XI in 2024. He’s already passed 50 goals for Norway reaching the landmark in less than 50 appearances after scoring 17 times in 2025 alone. Haaland has also racked up well over 50 goals in the UEFA Champions League whilst representing the likes of RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Man City.
Tasked with feeding chances to Haaland will be Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), a creative lynchpin in midfield. Formerly of Real Madrid, Odegaard has spent the last five seasons as perennial Premier League title challengers Arsenal, where has been named the club’s Player of the Season twice.
Odegaard also has another striker to target in Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), who can be a perfect foil for Haaland in attack. Sorlorth has over 25 goals for Norway and his physical presence makes him a nightmare for defenders.
Who is in Norway’s group at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Norway are in Group I, which consists of the following teams:
France
Senegal
Iraq
Norway
Norway’s Group I fixtures are as follows:
Iraq vs Norway: Tuesday June 16, 2026 – 10:00am ET, 3:00pm UK
Norway vs Senegal: Monday June 22, 2026 – 8:00pm ET, 1:00am UK (Tuesday)
Norway vs France: Friday June 26, 2026 – 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm UK
All kick-off dates are based on a local kick-off time
Where is Norway’s base camp at FIFA World Cup 2026?
UNC Greensboro – Greensboro, North Carolina
Expert prediction for Norway’s chances at FIFA World Cup 2026
Whilst Norway have been unlucky to be drawn into a group that includes one of the top European nations in France and one of the best African nations in Senegal, that won’t phase a squad with their offensive firepower. Norway can beat any team in the tournament with the likes of Haaland and Sorloth in attack and Odegaard pulling the strings behind them. However, they will be tested defensively like never before.
A second or third place finish for Norway in Group I appears most likely with France understandably favourites to win it. However, that could lead to a much tougher first knockout stage fixture than they would like, with Germany or Ecuador the likely opponents for the Group I runners-up and projected Group L winners England a possibility should Norway be one of the eight best third place finishers. Therefore, Norway’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey could well be cut off earlier than they would’ve hoped.
What round will Norway reach at FIFA World Cup 2026? Round of 32
