Ståle Solbakken named Norway’s 2026 World Cup squad on May 21, 2026, with Martin Odegaard as captain and Erling Haaland, 25, heading to his first major tournament. The announcement came via a pre-recorded video message from King Harald V, who told a nation that had “waited a long time” to return to the World Cup stage. Norway are back after a 28-year absence.
Solbakken’s Norway World Cup Squad 2026 spans eight European leagues and averages 26.4 years of age. Four Premier League players feature: Odegaard (Arsenal), Haaland (Manchester City), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), and Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace). Norway enter Group I with France, Senegal, and Iraq. They qualified with eight wins from eight UEFA matches, scoring 37 goals and conceding five. This is their fourth World Cup.
This is your full Norway World Cup Squad 2026 list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the tournament.
Norway 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Orjan Nyland | Sevilla | 35 |
| GK | Egil Selvik | Watford | 28 |
| GK | Sander Tangvik | Hamburger SV | 23 |
| DF | Kristoffer Ajer | Brentford | 28 |
| DF | Julian Ryerson | Borussia Dortmund | 28 |
| DF | Leo Ostigard | Genoa | 26 |
| DF | Marcus Holmgren Pedersen | Torino | 27 |
| DF | David Moller Wolfe | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 25 |
| DF | Fredrik Bjorkan | Bodo/Glimt | 26 |
| DF | Torbjorn Heggem | Bologna | 27 |
| DF | Sondre Langas | Derby County | 25 |
| DF | Henrik Falchener | Viking | 23 |
| MF | Martin Odegaard (C) | Arsenal | 27 |
| MF | Sander Berge | Fulham | 28 |
| MF | Patrick Berg | Bodo/Glimt | 28 |
| MF | Kristian Thorstvedt | Sassuolo | 27 |
| MF | Morten Thorsby | Cremonese | 30 |
| MF | Antonio Nusa | RB Leipzig | 21 |
| MF | Fredrik Aursnes | Benfica | 30 |
| MF | Oscar Bobb | Fulham | 22 |
| MF | Jens Petter Hauge | Bodo/Glimt | 27 |
| MF | Andreas Schjelderup | Benfica | 22 |
| MF | Thelo Aasgaard | Rangers | 23 |
| FW | Alexander Sorloth | Atletico Madrid | 30 |
| FW | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 25 |
| FW | Jorgen Strand Larsen | Crystal Palace | 26 |
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Solbakken has assembled a squad built across eight European leagues, with Premier League quality at the top.
- Average age: 26.4 years
- Top scorer in the squad: Erling Haaland (55 international goals, Norway all-time record)
- Qualifying top scorer: Erling Haaland (16 goals in eight qualifiers)
- Premier League players: Four (Odegaard, Haaland, Ajer, Strand Larsen)
- Youngest player: Antonio Nusa, 21 (RB Leipzig)
- Oldest player: Orjan Nyland, 35 (Sevilla)
- World Cup debutants: All 26 players (Norway’s first finals since 1998)
Key Players to Watch
Erling Haaland, Manchester City (FW)
At 25, Haaland finally gets his World Cup. He’s Norway’s all-time top scorer with 55 international goals and leads their qualifying charts with 16 goals. His father, Alfie Haaland, played for Norway at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Erling picks up that baton 32 years later as the biggest name at this tournament.
Martin Odegaard (C), Arsenal (MF)
Norway’s captain drove Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years. The concern heading to North America is fitness. Odegaard suffered multiple injuries this season and missed Norway’s March 2026 friendlies. A fully sharp Odegaard is the difference between a group-stage exit and a genuine knockout-round run. Norway need him healthy from kick-off.
Alexander Sorloth, Atletico Madrid (FW)
The Atletico Madrid striker is 30 and brings La Liga composure as Haaland’s primary backup. Sorloth scored regularly in qualifying and can start alongside Haaland in a dual-striker shape or replace him when Solbakken needs fresh legs or a different physical presence up front.
Sander Berge, Fulham (MF)
Berge is Norway’s midfield anchor at 28. He shields the defence, wins second balls, and distributes quickly. Solbakken’s high-press depends on Berge’s engine to cover the ground between lines and keep transitions clean. His Premier League experience is a key asset in tight group-stage matches.
Antonio Nusa, RB Leipzig (MF)
Nusa is 21 and Norway’s most exciting young talent. The RB Leipzig winger is sharp, direct, and hard to contain in one-versus-one situations. He doesn’t always start for Solbakken but has the pace and movement to change a game from the bench and could have a breakout tournament in North America.
Jorgen Strand Larsen, Crystal Palace (FW)
The Crystal Palace forward is 26 and gives Solbakken a third striker option with genuine quality. Strand Larsen is physically imposing, scored steadily in qualifying, and provides a different shape when Norway need to hold the ball or protect a lead late in a game.
Norway World Cup 2026 Schedule
Norway play all three group stage matches on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Kick-off times are in Eastern Time (ET) and Central European Summer Time (CEST) for fans in Norway.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, June 16 | Iraq | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | 6:00 PM | 12:00 AM (Jun 17) |
| Mon, June 22 | Senegal | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford | 8:00 PM | 2:00 AM (Jun 23) |
| Fri, June 26 | France | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
All kick-off times follow the official FIFA match schedule confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw. Norway’s final pre-tournament preparation included a goalless draw with Switzerland on March 31, 2026 and a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands on March 27. Check the full World Cup 2026 match schedule for all group stage timings.
How Norway Qualified for World Cup 2026
Norway topped UEFA Group I with a perfect qualifying record: eight wins, zero draws, zero losses. They scored 37 goals, conceded five, and finished with a goal difference of plus 32 from 24 points. The group included Italy, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova. Norway outscored every rival.
The campaign produced historic results. Norway beat Moldova 11-1 in Oslo on September 9, 2025: Haaland scored five and Thelo Aasgaard four in the same game. Norway also beat Italy 3-0 at Ullevaal on June 6, 2025, before sealing qualification in Italy’s own backyard.
Qualification was confirmed on November 16, 2025, at San Siro. Norway won 4-1 in front of 69,020 fans, ending Italy’s automatic qualification hopes and sending them to the playoffs. That victory in Milan capped the most dominant qualifying campaign in Norwegian football history.
Head Coach: Ståle Solbakken
Ståle Solbakken was born on February 27, 1968, in Kongsvinger, Norway. He took charge of the national team on December 3, 2020, replacing Lars Lagerbäck. Now 58, he is the first Norway manager to qualify for the World Cup since Egil Olsen in 1998. Solbakken also played at that same 1998 tournament, earning 58 international caps over his career.
His playing career ended after a cardiac arrest during training at FC Copenhagen in March 2001. He was pronounced clinically dead and revived in the ambulance nearly seven minutes later. He went on to build a decorated managerial career, winning eight Danish Superliga titles at Copenhagen across two spells.
Solbakken builds his teams in a 4-3-3. Norway press aggressively high up the pitch and look to win the ball back quickly. They transition fast, feeding Haaland in behind defences. Odegaard operates as the advanced midfielder behind the striker line. The system demands physical intensity and rewards the kind of athleticism this squad provides.
Group I at a Glance
Norway are in Group I with France, Senegal, and Iraq. The group stage runs from June 16 to June 26.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1 | 17th | Winner (1998, 2018) |
| Senegal | 19* | 4th | Quarter-finals (2002) |
| Iraq | 57 | 2nd | Group stage (1986) |
| Norway | 31 | 4th | Round of 16 (1998) |
*Senegal ranking from November 2025 FIFA update. France, Iraq, and Norway figures from the April 1, 2026 official update.
France enter as heavy favourites. Ranked first in the world and two-time champions, Didier Deschamps’ side has the depth to dominate. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2026 and are defensively organised with real pace on the counter. Iraq end a 40-year World Cup absence as the group’s most beatable side. See the full Group I breakdown and standings on the groups hub.
FAQ About Norway World Cup Squad 2026
What formation does Norway play under Ståle Solbakken?
Norway line up in a 4-3-3. Two defensive midfielders protect the back four while Odegaard pushes forward as the creative hub. The team presses high, wins the ball back quickly, and looks to feed Haaland in behind opposing defences with direct vertical passes and fast transitions.
How have Norway and France performed against each other historically?
Norway and France have met 16 times in international football, with France holding the overall advantage. Their most recent encounter was a 4-0 French win in a 2014 friendly. The June 26 fixture at Boston Stadium marks the first competitive meeting between the two sides.
What was Norway’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance?
Norway first competed at the World Cup in 1938 in France. The 2026 tournament is their fourth appearance. They missed six consecutive World Cups between 1998 and 2026 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), making the 28-year wait one of the longest gaps for a traditional European football nation.
What international scoring record does Erling Haaland hold?
Haaland is the fastest player in history to score 50 international goals, reaching the mark in just 46 appearances. He has since extended his record to 55 goals in 49 caps, making him Norway’s all-time leading scorer by a large margin.
Did Erling Haaland’s father play for Norway at the World Cup?
Yes. Alfie Inge Haaland played as a midfielder for Norway and was part of their squad for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Erling now follows in his father’s footsteps at a World Cup on the same continent, 32 years on, as Norway’s greatest-ever goalscorer.\
Norway’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
This Norway World Cup Squad 2026 is the most talented the country has sent to a major tournament in the modern era. Haaland guarantees goals against any opposition. The squad has Premier League intensity at its core and a tactical system built for the tournament’s intensity. Solbakken won’t fear Iraq and can target a result against Senegal. Group qualification is realistic, not just optimistic.
The ceiling depends on Odegaard’s fitness and the group decider against France. A sharp, healthy Odegaard changes what Norway can achieve in the knockout rounds. This squad could push past the Round of 16 result from 1998 and reach the quarter-finals. That would be Norway’s best World Cup run in history. The 28-year wait has earned this generation the right to dream big.
