Norway — World Cup 2026
For 28 years, Norway have been absent from football's grandest stage. Now they return — and they bring with them the most feared striker on the planet. Erling Haaland, a man who has shattered Premier League records and terrorised Champions League defences, has never played at a World Cup. 2026 changes everything. With Martin Ødegaard pulling strings in midfield and a squad finally built to compete, this is Norway's first genuine chance to reach the knockout rounds since their legendary 1998 campaign when they beat Brazil.
Norway Highlights
Two names stand out! 👀
How many correct answers did you get? 🤨
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In the 2009 final, Messi delivered 👏
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Ultimate Champions Legends Tournament 2026
The 2025/26 Conference League season finished off in style 🍿
Xavi 👉 Pedro 🎯
EVERY Crystal Palace Goal To Win The Conference League!
Everyone celebrates with Mateta! 😍
Adam Wharton = Player of the Match!
What a special goal this would have been! 🤯
Key Storylines
🎯 Erling Haaland — His First World Cup
The most prolific striker of his generation has broken records at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, won the Champions League, and been crowned the best player in the world. Yet he has never played at a World Cup. In 2026, that changes. Every goal, every moment will be scrutinised. For Haaland and Norway, this is the tournament that defines legacies.
🎨 Martin Ødegaard — Arsenal Captain, Viking General
While Haaland provides the goal threat, Ødegaard is the architect. The Arsenal captain — one of the Premier League's most technically gifted midfielders — will be the creative heartbeat of Norway's campaign. His ability to dictate tempo and carve open defences could be the difference between a group stage exit and a stunning run deep into the tournament.
⏳ 28 Years in the Wilderness
Norway last graced a World Cup in 1998 — the era of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Tore André Flo, and a stunning win over Brazil in the group stage. They knocked out Italy in the R16 before falling on penalties... wait, they lost to Italy 1-0. Two generations of Norwegian footballers have come and gone without a World Cup. The pressure — and the dream — falls on Haaland's broad shoulders.
🏟️ Group I — France the Giant, Norway the Danger
Group I pairs Norway with France — the tournament favourites and two-time winners — alongside African powerhouse Senegal. On paper it's one of the toughest groups in the tournament. But Norway thrive on this. They beat Brazil in 1998. They qualify with players from the world's biggest clubs. Haaland against Mbappé, Ødegaard against Camavinga — this group will not lack for quality.
🔥 Alexander Sørloth — The Other Striker
Atletico Madrid's towering centre-forward is one of European football's most underrated strikers. Playing second fiddle to Haaland at international level, Sørloth brings aerial threat, physicality and a goals record that any international team would value. If Haaland is marked out of games, Sørloth is the man ready to punish opponents who get it wrong.
⚡ The Viking Renaissance
Norwegian football has never been richer with talent: Haaland, Ødegaard, Sørloth, Sander Berge and more all playing at elite European clubs simultaneously. Ståle Solbakken has built a collective that can absorb pressure and explode on the counter. This is the strongest Norway squad in history. The question is whether they can channel that quality at the biggest moment.