About the Team

Norway’s Men’s National Team returns to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998 — ending a 28-year absence from football’s biggest stage. The team has a young, talented squad loaded with stars from Europe’s top club leagues. 

Team Overview

Norway’s Men’s National Team returns to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998, ending a 28-year absence from major international tournaments. Norway’s previous World Cup appearances came in France in 1938, the USA in 1994, and France again in 1998. 

Norway qualified in impressive fashion, winning all eight matches in their UEFA qualifying group. They scored 37 goals and conceded just five, finishing at the top of the group ahead of Italy. The campaign ended on a high note with a 4–1 victory over Italy at the San Siro in Milan. 

The team has a young and talented squad with quality across all positions and leadership at the top. Norway faces a demanding group against Iraq, Senegal, and France — but arrives with confidence, structure, and belief. 

3

Group Stage Matches

28

Years Since Last Cup

8-0

Qualifying Record

37

Goals in Qualifying

5

Goals Conceded

Key Players

Captain · Midfielder

Martin Ødegaard

Arsenal FC · Premier League

Norway’s creative heartbeat and captain. The elegant midfielder leads both club and country with vision and composure. Ødegaard is the driving force behind Norway’s style of play and one of the most technically gifted players in the tournament. 

Forward · All-Time Top Scorer

Erling Haaland

Manchester City FC · Premier League

Norway’s all-time leading scorer with 55 goals in 49 national team appearances. The Manchester City striker provides the main attacking threat and is one of the most feared forwards in world football. His physicality, pace, and finishing make him a constant danger. 

Forward

Alexander Sørloth

Atlético Madrid · La Liga

Atletico Madrid’s top scorer in both of the last two seasons, Sorloth brings physicality, experience, and a clinical edge in the forward line. His partnership with Haaland gives Norway one of the most potent attacking combinations in the tournament. His partnership with Haaland gives Norway one of the most potent attacking combinations in the tournament. 

Head Coach 

Ståle Solbakken

Head Coach · Norwegian Men’s National Football Team 

Ståle Solbakken brings a unique perspective to his role — he played on Norway’s 1998 World Cup squad and is now guiding the team back to football’s biggest stage for the first time since that tournament. 

As head coach, Solbakken oversaw Norway’s dominant qualifying campaign and made the decision to base the team in Greensboro, citing UNCG’s world-class facilities and the ideal environment for his squad to perform at their best. 

“The World Cup is a test, both mentally and physically. It is extremely important to be able to disconnect from matches and training and have good facilities.”

— Ståle Solbakken, Head Coach · Norwegian Men’s National Football Team 

Full Squad

Goalkeepers

  • Viljar Myhra
  • Ørjan Nyland
  • Egil Selvik

Defenders

  • Kristoffer Ajer
  • Fredrik André Bjørkan
  • Odin Bjørtuft
  • Henrik Sælebakke Falchener
  • Torbjørn Heggem
  • Leo Østigård
  • Marcus Pedersen
  • Julian Ryerson
  • David Møller Wolfe

Midfielders

  • Patrick Berg
  • Sander Berge
  • Oscar Bobb
  • Jens Petter Hauge
  • Felix Horn Myhre
  • Antonio Nusa
  • Martin Ødegaard
  • Morten Thorsby
  • Kristian Thorstvedt

Forwards

  • Erling Haaland
  • Jørgen Strand Larsen
  • Alexander Sørloth