Norway — World Cup 2026 Squad & Fixtures

Norway's best World Cup result came in 1998, when they beat Brazil 2-1 in the group stage with two late goals, Tore André Flo's 83rd-minute equaliser and a penalty three minutes later, before losing 1-0 to Italy in the round of 16. They also appeared in 1938 and 1994, giving them three World Cup appearances in total. The 1994 campaign in the United States produced a win over Mexico and draws with Italy and the Republic of Ireland, but Norway finished third in their group on goal difference and exited. The 2026 tournament ends a 28-year absence, the longest gap between appearances for any European qualifier.

Norway qualified through the UEFA playoff pathway after finishing second in a group that included several established nations. The campaign was built on defensive organisation and set-piece goals: Norway scored a higher proportion of their goals from dead balls than any other European qualifier. Ståle Solbakken's approach prioritises shape without the ball and transition pace when possession is recovered, a style that suited qualifying's tighter margins but may need adaptation against World Cup opposition with more technical quality.

Norway arrive at the 2026 tournament with two of the most productive attackers in European football but a squad that has not played together at a major tournament: a combination of individual quality and collective inexperience that makes their ceiling hard to assess. Group J pairs them with Morocco, Ghana, and Panama: Morocco will test Norway's defensive organisation, Ghana will test their physicality, and Panama offers the best chance for points. Getting out of the group would be Norway's best World Cup result since 1998.

Erling Haaland scores goals at a rate that makes him Norway's most dangerous player by a margin: his movement in the box, his acceleration over ten metres, and his finishing under pressure give Norway a weapon that opponents must game-plan around. Martin Ødegaard supplies the passes that Haaland finishes: his vision between the lines and his ability to play through pressure create the chances that Norway's transition game depends on.