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Norway Aims to Showcase Strength Beyond Haaland at 2026 World Cup
Norway returns to the 2026 World Cup with a strong squad after a long absence, aiming to prove they are not solely dependent on Erling Haaland. Their qualifying performance indicates the team could make a surprising impact in the tournament.
Norway is coming back to the 2026 World Cup with a strong ambition after many years. The Scandinavian team, appearing in the tournament for the first time since 1998, is preparing to prove that it is not a team relying solely on Erling Haaland.
Norway's World Cup history is quite limited. Before 2026, the country had only participated in the finals three times, winning two matches and advancing to the round of 16 only once, in 1998.
Still, the team's biggest asset will naturally be Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old striker, known for his goal-scoring prowess at Manchester City, has scored 55 goals in 50 appearances for Norway and was the top scorer in the European qualifiers with 16 goals in eight matches.
Haaland drew attention by scoring five goals in the 11-1 victory over Moldova. Having also won the Premier League Golden Boot after the season with Manchester City, if he carries this form into the World Cup, Norway's chances of going deep in the tournament will increase.
However, Norway does not rely solely on Haaland. The team has multiple attacking options capable of taking responsibility when needed, making them more dangerous.
Alexander Sorloth, after an unremarkable spell at Crystal Palace, found consistent goal-scoring form in La Liga with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. The 30-year-old striker is one of Norway's top three all-time scorers with 26 goals in 72 appearances for the national team.
Jorgen Strand Larsen is also part of the squad. Known for his connection with Fulham, the forward contributed in the recent 3-1 friendly win against Sweden by scoring two goals.
Norway's leader is Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. The 27-year-old playmaker provided seven assists in the European qualifiers, making him the continent's most productive creator in that category.
On the right side, Borussia Dortmund's Julian Ryerson stands out as an important creative force. The right-back produced 18 assists across all competitions last season for his club, including four in a single match.
On the left wing, 21-year-old Antonio Nusa makes a difference. The young winger playing for RB Leipzig earned the nickname "Norwegian Neymar" at an early age due to his dribbling skills.
Other notable squad members include Oscar Bobb, Sander Berge, Kristoffer Ajer, David Moller Wolfe, Thelo Aasgaard, and Fredrik Bjorkan, Patrick Berg, and Jens Petter Hauge from Bodo/Glimt.
Norway also keeps a broad squad with three players rising from Bodo/Glimt, who reached the round of 16. This shows the team is not just about a few stars but has built a balanced structure with players from different areas.
Stale Solbakken's team lost only one of their last 16 matches and won all eight games in their qualifying group. Norway scored 37 goals during this period, becoming Europe's highest-scoring team; 21 of these goals came from players other than Haaland.
This form leads Norway into a strong start against Iraq in the opening match of Group I. The match on Tuesday, June 16, could provide a significant advantage before tougher games against Senegal and France.
A win by a clear margin could almost guarantee Norway's approach to the round of 32 with two matches remaining. Such a start would also make expectations of Norway causing a surprise at the 2026 World Cup more visible.
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