Norway are back at the World Cup after a near 30-year absence. And they’ve reached the quarter-finals.
It’s the first time Norway have made it this far, already marking a historic tournament. But Norway won’t want to stop their. The Vikings finished second in their group with two wins from three, beating Iraq and Senegal. Stale Solbakken heavily rotated for the final game against France, which they lost, with a knockout stage space already secured.
Norway had to hold their nerve in the last-32 against Ivory Coast to eventually win 2-1, setting up a last-16 tie against Brazil. The Vikings were underdogs going into that came but were excellent to seal a 2-1 win over the five-time world champions.
Get all the latest Norway stats as the tournament unfolds, plus the latest squad, manager and fixture information for the European side here.
Norway World Cup 2026 route to the final
Norway face England in the World Cup quarter-finals on 11th July. The winner of that tie will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals on 15th July.
All routes lead to the World Cup Final on 19th July.
READ MORE: Get the latest Norway World Cup 2026 outright odds here
Norway World Cup 2026 Stats
Norway’s key players for World Cup 2026
Norway top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Erling Haaland
- Key stat: Erling Haaland has scored seven goals in his four World Cup games so far.
In his first World Cup, Erling Haaland is chasing the Golden Boot. He’s scored in all four games he has played, netting seven goals in total. Only Lionel Messi (eight) has scored more at the World Cup. We shouldn’t be surprised. This is a man who scores goals for fun, with 62 goals in 54 games. That’s not a typo. He has more goals than games for Norway, and has netted his past 14 competitive matches for the Vikings.
Norway primary playmaker: Martin Odegaard
- Key stat: Andreas Schjelderup has provided three assists at the World Cup this summer.
Norway have been sharing the creative responsibilities at the World Cup this summer. Haaland has the most chances created with six, one ahead of Andreas Schjelderup. But, Schjelderup has provided three assists in just 183 minutes. It’s a number matched by Martin Odegaard, and the pair are also level on two big chances created. But Schjelderup has been the more creative per 90 minutes, and the more impressive.
Norway card magnet & top tackler: Fredrik Aursnes
- Key stat: Fredrik Aursnes leads Norway for tackles at this summer’s World Cup.
Fredrik Aursnes has played in a few positions for Norway, both in midfield and defence. So it’s no surprise to see him at the top of the charts for tackles among Norwegian players. He has made 10 at the World Cup so far, three more than the next Norway players. Alongside his 10 tackles, Aursnes has also committed five fouls — the second-most of any Norway player. But only two Norwegian players have been booked, and Aursnes isn’t one of them.
Norway rising star: Antonio Nusa
Antonio Nusa has been a bright spark on the wings for Norway, still only 21 years old. He’s won 29 caps for the Vikings since his debut in 2023, scoring nine goals. One of those came at the World Cup, opening the scoring in the last-32 win over the Ivory Coast.
STAND-OUT STAT: Norway scored more goals than any other team in the Uefa qualifying section with 37 – of which Erling Haaland scored 16.
Norway’s set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Erling Haaland
- Free kicks: Julian Ryerson
- Corners: Martin Odegaard, Patrick Berg, Julian Ryerson
Norway tactical analysis and formation
Norway team stats (average per game at World Cup 2026):
- Corners: 4.4
- Shots on target: 5.0
- Shots on target conceded: 4.6
- Offsides: 0.8
Stale Solbakken has a talented squad to pick his starting line up from. The likes of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard fall into the world class bracket, while Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sorloth and Sander Berge are all established players within the top five leagues in Europe.
The defence has plenty of talent, with Julian Ryerson and Kristoffer Ajer both playing for high profile sides. But the one area of weakness, that showed into the final group stage match, is the lack of genuine depth beyond the starting XI.
Get the latest Norway World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here
Norway manager analysis
Stale Solbakken has been Norway manager since 2020, when he replaced Lars Lagerback following his resignation. His record since his appointment has been impressive, with Norway winning 36 of their 61 games played under the 58-year-old. Solbakken enjoyed a successful playing career, with spells in Norway, England and Denmark as well as winning 58 caps for Norway.
This will be the first major international tournament that Solbakken has led his nation into and will be a big test as to his credentials at the top level.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ståle Solbakken | Norway | 61 | 36 | 12 | 13 | 59.02% |
Norway World Cup FAQs
Have Norway ever won the World Cup?
Norway have never won the World Cup, with two last-16 appearances being their best finishes prior to 2026.
Where did Norway finish in the last World Cup?
Norway did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, with 2026 being their first appearance since 1998.
Who will be Norway captain at the World Cup?
Martin Odegaard will captain Norway at the World Cup and has held the armband since March 2021.
Who is Norway’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Erling Haaland is Norway’s all-time top goalscorer at the World Cup, with seven goals.
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