📋 Overview
Norway return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, ending a 28-year absence, drawn into Group I alongside France and Senegal — arguably the toughest assignment of any qualified team. Led by Erling Haaland, one of the most clinical goalscorers in modern football, Norway will hope their star striker can drag them through a brutal group and into the knockout stages for the first time since 1998.
🏆 Qualification
- Status Qualified
- Group I
- How they got there Qualified automatically as UEFA group winner — a historic achievement after 28 years away
- FIFA Ranking context Lower seed in Pot 3/4 — considered underdogs in Group I but with a world-class talisman in Haaland
📖 World Cup History
| Appearances | 3 |
| Best Finish | Round of 16 (1938, 1998) |
| Last Appearance | 1998 (round of 16) |
| 2022 Result | Did not qualify |
👔 Manager & Captain
- Manager Ståle Solbakken
- Captain Martin Ødegaard
- Playing Style Direct, physical football built around getting the ball to Haaland quickly
⭐ Key Players to Watch
Erling Haaland, one of the most prolific strikers in football history with extraordinary goal-scoring records at Manchester City, is Norway's standout star and the focal point of their entire attacking approach. Martin Ødegaard captains the side and provides the creative service that Haaland feeds off.
Erling HaalandMartin ØdegaardAlexander SørlothAntonio NusaSander Berge
📅 Group I Fixtures
Group I: Norway vs France
Group I: Norway vs Senegal
Group I: Norway vs Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname playoff winner
Norway face an extremely difficult Group I draw against France — but Haaland's individual brilliance means Norway can never be written off in any single match. A win or draw against France would be a massive result; Senegal represents the more realistic path to qualification points.
🌍 Why Fans in Bangladesh Should Watch Norway
Norway's return to the World Cup after 28 years is itself a major story — but the real draw is Erling Haaland, whose scoring records at club level are extraordinary, getting his first chance to perform on football's biggest stage. The Mbappé vs Haaland showdown in the France-Norway fixture is one of the must-watch individual battles of the entire group stage.
📺 How to Follow Norway at FIFA 2026
Norway matches will be shown on T Sports and Sony Sports in Bangladesh. The Norway vs France fixture should be a priority for fans wanting to see Haaland's World Cup debut against elite opposition.
❓ FAQ — Norway at FIFA 2026
Why has Norway been absent from the World Cup for so long?
Norway last qualified for the World Cup in 1998, reaching the round of 16. Despite producing world-class individual talents over the following decades, the national team struggled to qualify for major tournaments until this FIFA 2026 qualification campaign, ending a 28-year absence.
How good is Erling Haaland?
Erling Haaland is widely regarded as one of the most clinically efficient goalscorers in modern football history, holding numerous goal-scoring records in the Premier League and Champions League with Manchester City. FIFA 2026 represents his first opportunity to showcase this ability on the World Cup stage.
When does FIFA World Cup 2026 start?
FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, hosted across 16 cities in the USA, Mexico and Canada — the first-ever 48-team World Cup, with the Final at MetLife Stadium, New York.