Norway's football team back at the World Cup after 24‑year hiatus

Norway's men's national soccer team will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, its first appearance since 1998. The squad, coached by Ståle Solbakken, opens the tournament on 16 June with a Group I match against Iraq in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as the competition takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The roster features global stars Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal, alongside 15 other players drawn from the top five European leagues and clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid and Bodø/Glimt. Norway qualified convincingly, winning all eight qualifying games with a 37‑5 aggregate and scoring the most goals in the European zone. The team's recent rise is credited to substantial investment in artificial‑turf facilities, indoor halls and youth academies, shifting its style from a traditional defensive approach to possession‑based, high‑press football.

The group also includes France, Senegal and Iraq, presenting a demanding first round for the resurgent Norwegians.