2026 World Cup - Group I: Norway's preview, squad and schedule

16.06.26 FT World Cup

Iraq

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Norway

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Norway will compete in their fifth World Cup this summer, ending a 28-year wait. Absent from the global stage since France 1998, the Scandinavian side returns with high ambitions, led by Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland.

World Cup history

Norway made their World Cup debut in 1938. The Scandinavians were knocked out in their opening match by eventual champions Italy, after extra time.

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Their best performance remains a Round of 16 finish, lost to Italy in 1998, after having beaten Brazil (2-1) in the group stage of the tournament held in France.

Qualification campaign

In European qualifiers, the Scandinavians won all eight of their games (37 goals scored, 5 conceded) and topped their group, including two victories over Italy.

Number of appearances

4 (1938, 1994, 1998)

World Cup record

9 matches: 2 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses, 7 goals scored / 8 conceded

Norway squad

Goalkeepers: Örjan Nyland (Sevilla FC, ESP), Egil Selvik (Watford, ENG 2nd div), Sander Tangvik (Hamburg, GER)

Defenders: Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford, ENG), Torbjörn Heggem (Bologna, ITA), Leo Östigard (Genoa, ITA), Julian Ryerson (Dortmund, GER), Marcus Pedersen (Torino, ITA), David Möller Wolfe (Wolverhampton, ENG), Fredrik Björkan (Bodö/Glimt, NOR), Sondre Langas (Derby County, ENG 2nd div) and Henrik Falchener (Viking, NOR)

Midfielders: Martin Ödegaard (Arsenal, ENG), Sander Berge (Fulham, ENG), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica, POR), Patrick Berg (Bodö/Glimt, NOR), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo, ITA), Antonio Nusa (Leipzig, GER), Oscar Bobb (Fulham, ENG), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica, POR), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodö/Glimt, NOR), Thelo Aasgaard (G. Rangers, SCO), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese, ITA)

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Man. City, ENG), Alexander Sörloth (Atlético, ESP), Jörgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace, ENG)

Norway’s Group I schedule

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Iraq - Norway

10:00 PM | Boston Stadium

Monday, June 22, 2026

Norway - Senegal

12:00 AM | New York New Jersey Stadium

Friday, June 26, 2026

Norway - France

7:00 PM | Boston Stadium

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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