Norway at the World Cup 2026 | Squad, Fixtures & Odds

World Cup 2026 group and fixtures

Norway are in Group I at World Cup 2026 alongside France, Senegal and Iraq. The Iraq opener at Gillette Stadium on 16 June is a winnable start, but the headline fixture is the 26 June group decider against France in Foxborough. Senegal at MetLife in between is the test that likely determines whether Norway top the group or settle for runners-up.

Norway World Cup 2026 squad

The squad below reflects Solbakken’s selection for the March 2026 friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland. Captain Martin Odegaard was omitted from that camp to protect a long-term knee issue and is the squad’s biggest fitness question heading into May. Erling Haaland anchors the attack; the centre-back pair of Ajer and Ostigard is settled. Final 26-man tournament squad to be confirmed in May 2026.

Goalkeepers (provisional, as of March 2026)

Defenders (provisional, as of March 2026)

Midfielders (provisional, as of March 2026)

Forwards (provisional, as of March 2026)

How Norway will play

Solbakken’s 4-3-3 is built around two reference points: Haaland leading the line and Odegaard floating off the right of midfield as the chief creator. Berge screens the back four, Patrick Berg shuttles, Nusa and Sorloth provide the wide threat. The directness — vertical passes into Haaland, second balls into Sorloth’s runs — was the qualifying blueprint that produced 37 goals in eight games.

The defining strength is goal-scoring depth. Haaland’s 16 qualifying goals were the most in any UEFA group, but Sorloth, Strand Larsen, Nusa and Odegaard all contributed multiple strikes. Norway scored 37 in eight matches; only the Group of Death sides Spain and France matched that volume. Five different players scored in the 4-1 demolition of Italy at the San Siro on the final matchday.

The weakness is what happens when teams move the ball through the press. Norway conceded five in qualifying — four of them in a single match in Tel Aviv when Israel turned the build-up over twice and exposed the gap between Berge and the back four. France in the third group game will probe exactly that seam, particularly down the left flank where Wolfe is still establishing himself at this level.

Predicted XI (4-3-3)

Predicted starting XI — 4-3-3. Captain: Martin Odegaard (subject to fitness).

Manager: Stale Solbakken

Solbakken returned for a second Norway spell in December 2020 and has now done what nine of his predecessors couldn’t — qualified Norway for a senior tournament. The 58-year-old won three Danish Superliga titles and a Champions League last-16 spot with FC Copenhagen between his Norway stints, and his pragmatic 4-3-3 has finally married the country’s generational talents to a system that suits them. The 4-1 win at the San Siro that sealed top spot in Group I is already on Norwegian footballing folklore.

Captain: Martin Odegaard

Odegaard captains Norway from the No 10 role, having held the armband since 2021. The Arsenal playmaker has 65-plus caps and is the system’s creative axis — without him, Solbakken loses the half-space passer who turns Haaland’s runs into goals. Was omitted from the March 2026 friendlies squad to protect a long-term knee issue and Solbakken hinted at “reversing the decision” if recovery progressed; his fitness for the Iraq opener on 16 June is the team’s single biggest pre-tournament question.

Norway players to watch at World Cup 2026

Erling Haaland — Striker, Manchester City

The reason the bookmakers price Norway as a tournament dark horse. 16 goals in eight qualifiers — the most by any player in any UEFA group — including the brace at the San Siro that secured top spot. Multiple Premier League and Champions League winner; widely backed alongside Mbappe and Kane in the Golden Boot market at 14/1 with bet365.

Martin Odegaard — Attacking midfielder / captain, Arsenal

Norway’s captain and creative pivot. The Arsenal No 8 was omitted from the March 2026 squad to protect a long-term knee issue but is expected back for the tournament. Without him, Solbakken has to rebuild the midfield around Berge and Patrick Berg — with him, Norway have one of the better creative axes in the tournament.

Alexander Sorloth — Forward, Atletico Madrid

The 1.95m forward whose movement, aerial work and second-striker runs make Haaland’s life easier. Eight goals in qualifying, often coming off the bench. La Liga top-six experience at Atletico means he is comfortable against elite defences — exactly the profile Norway need against France.

Antonio Nusa — Right winger, RB Leipzig

The 21-year-old Bundesliga winger who supplies the directness opposite Sorloth. Pace, dribbling and a left foot that lets him cut inside off the right — Norway’s ball-carrying outlet when Odegaard is being tracked, and the kind of profile that French full-backs find awkward.

Sander Berge — Defensive midfielder, Fulham

The Premier League-tested ball-winner who screens the back four. 1.95m frame, comfortable on the ball, and the senior partner alongside Patrick Berg in the central midfield triangle. The tactical pivot between Norway’s two phases — defending mid-block and then springing Haaland in transition.

How Norway qualified for World Cup 2026

Norway won UEFA Group I with a perfect record — eight matches played, eight wins, 37 goals scored and just five conceded. Haaland led the scoring with 16 goals, the highest tally in any UEFA qualifying group. Solbakken’s side were unbeaten throughout and clinched top spot on the final matchday with a 4-1 win at Italy in the San Siro on 16 November 2025.

The standout result was that San Siro demolition of Italy — Haaland scored twice, Sorloth and Strand Larsen completed the rout. The closest call came in matchday two in Tel Aviv: Norway won 4-2 against Israel but conceded twice and looked uncomfortable with the press. The home fixtures (5-0 vs Israel, 4-1 vs Estonia, 3-0 vs Italy) were essentially routine procession; Solbakken’s challenge in the US will be replicating that authority on neutral soil.

Norway’s World Cup history

Norway are at their fourth World Cup and their first in 28 years. Three previous appearances — 1938, 1994 and 1998 — yielded two round-of-16 runs without ever reaching a quarter-final. The 1998 squad, managed by Egil Olsen, is the high-water mark: a famous 2-1 win over reigning champions Brazil in Marseille sent Norway through, before Christian Vieri’s goal eliminated them at the last 16.

The Brazil result remains a curio: Norway are one of only three nations with a winning head-to-head record against the Seleção (W2 D2 L0 in four senior meetings). Outside that 1998 highlight, Norway have spent a generation watching majors from home — every Euros and every World Cup between 2000 and 2024.

Norway’s recent form

Last five senior internationals (most recent first):

• 31 Mar 2026 — Switzerland — 0-0 D — Friendly (Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo)
• 27 Mar 2026 — Netherlands — 1-2 L — Friendly (Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam)
• 16 Nov 2025 — Italy — 4-1 W — WC qualifying (San Siro, qualification sealed)
• 13 Nov 2025 — Estonia — 4-1 W — WC qualifying (Oslo)
• 11 Oct 2025 — Israel — 5-0 W — WC qualifying (Oslo)

The March friendlies were Solbakken’s first matches without Odegaard. Andreas Schjelderup’s goal was the only return against the Netherlands; the Switzerland goalless draw five days later was Norway’s first scoreless game since June 2025. Both confirmed that the Odegaard-less attack lacks rhythm — a real concern if his fitness slips again.

Norway World Cup 2026 odds

Norway are 25/1 with bet365 to win the tournament — reflecting the bookmaker view that Haaland makes them a credible knockout-stage threat without quite cracking the top tier. The 11/4 to top Group I is the standout market, given France’s -235 favouritism implies the bookmakers expect Les Bleus to top a group Norway have already gone unbeaten through the qualifiers of. The full World Cup winner odds hub has the priced field in full.

Odds correct as of 1 May 2026 and subject to change. For the full World Cup 2026 outright market, group winners and golden-boot specials, see our World Cup 2026 betting hub.

Head-to-head record

Norway vs France

Eight previous senior meetings, France leading 4-2-2 (W-D-L). The most recent was a 4-0 France win in a Stade de France friendly in October 2020. They have never met at a World Cup; Norway’s last competitive fixture against Les Bleus came in Euro 2000 qualifying — Norway won 1-0 in Oslo via a Tore Andre Flo goal.

Norway vs Senegal

No senior meetings between the two sides on record. The MetLife Stadium fixture on 22 June will be the first.

Norway vs Iraq

No senior meetings between the two sides on record. The Foxborough opener on 16 June will be the first.

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