Norway FIFA World Cup 2026 Squad Announcement and Team Preview

By the time Norway steps onto the pitch at the 2026 World Cup, it will have been more than 20 years since their last appearance at a men’s World Cup.

Their previous outing at football’s biggest stage came in 1998, when they were knocked out in the last 16 by Italy. This time, however, things look very different. With Erling Haaland leading the attack and a strong group of talented players around him, Norway dominated qualifying, winning all eight of their matches to book their place in the tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Manager Stale Solbakken has brought out the best in what is widely seen as Norway’s strongest generation yet, and they could be one of the surprise teams in North America, with hopes of going deep into the knockout rounds.

They will first need to get through a tough Group I, which currently has France, Senegal, and Iraq. But with so many strong attacking players, a solid and hard-working midfield, and plenty of confidence in the squad, Norway should not be afraid of any opponent they face this summer.

In this article, we will take a look at the squad of Norway for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in detail. This will let you know how their team is shaping up for the tournament that is expected to be highly competitive. Let’s first take a look at the official Norway squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 below.

Norway Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Orjan Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (HSV)

Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Leo Skiri Ostigard (Genoa), David Møller Wolfe (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), Torbjørn Heggem (Bologna), Fredrik Bjørkan (Bodø/Glimt), Henrik Falchener (Viking), Sondre Langås (Derby County)

Midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodø/Glimt), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica)

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Alexander Sorloth (Atlético Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)

A Quick Look at Norway’s Road to the FIFA World Cup 2026

Norway does not have a strong record in FIFA World Cup history, but they have still produced some memorable moments in Scandinavian football. They secured a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing first in UEFA Qualifying Group I.

The Nordic team had a perfect qualifying run, winning all eight of their matches and collecting 24 points, finishing well ahead of Italy, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova. Now, they will look to continue this momentum in the upcoming mega event, however, it will bring a totally different challenge to them.

A Detailed Look at the Norway Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Norway are heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a strong and experienced team. They have selected players who have been in good form over the past few years and have shown they can step up in pressure situations to win matches. Let’s take a closer look at their squad below.

Goalkeepers

Norway are set to rely on 35-year-old veteran Orjan Nyland as their goalkeeper this summer. He previously played in England with clubs like Aston Villa, Norwich, Bournemouth, and Reading, and more recently has been Sevilla’s first-choice keeper in Spain. He is Ståle Solbakken’s most experienced option in goal, while Watford’s Egil Selvik and HSV’s Sander Tangvik are likely to serve as backup options.

Defenders

Norway has a fairly settled defence. Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer is expected to play alongside Torbjorn Heggem in central defence, while Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Ryerson and Wolves’ David Moller Wolfe will take the full-back positions.

They also have solid backup options if any of the four need to be replaced. Leo Skiri Ostigard, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, and Heggem all have experience playing in Italy’s Serie A. Bodo/Glimt pair Fredrik Andre Bjorkan and Odin Bjortuft are also likely to be included in the final squad for the summer.

Midfielders

Norway also have a hardworking midfield. Sander Berge may not have fully reached the early hype around him, but he is still a reliable presence in front of the defence. Meanwhile, Patrick Berg and Kristian Thorstvedt also add strength and make Norway tough to play through.

Martin Odegaard will be the key player for creativity. The Arsenal captain, who also leads Norway, has had a mixed season at club level due to injuries and has not made a big impact when available for Mikel Arteta’s side. Still, he remains very important for Norway and will have several strong attacking players ahead of him to create chances for.

Forwards

Norway’s biggest strength is Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who will be keen to shine in his first major international tournament. His goals could end up deciding how far Norway go, but even if he doesn’t deliver, manager Solbakken has other options he can rely on.

Alexander Sorloth has been in good form in Spain over the past few years, first with Real Sociedad and then after a strong spell at Villarreal, which earned him a move to Atletico Madrid, where he has continued to perform well. He is expected to play alongside Haaland up front, while Jorgen Strand Larsen is another option, although he brings a similar physical style to the other two.

On the wings, young RB Leipzig player Antonio Nusa is expected to get his chance to show what he can do, while Oscar Bobb will look to use his quick dribbling to cut inside and create chances for himself and his teammates.

Predicted Norway Starting XI for FIFA World Cup 2026

Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Thorstvedt; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa

Final Words

By looking at the squad of Norway for FIFA World Cup 2026, we could easily say that they are coming into the tournament with all bases covered. With star players like Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and more others, they are expected to progress deep into the tournament with complete dominance. This is the reason why fans are quite excited for this Norway squad, which is claimed by many football pundits as one of the best in decades.