Norway World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List
Norway are back at the World Cup after a 28 year wait. Their last appearance came in 1998. Ståle Solbakken named the Norway World Cup 2026 Squad on May 21, 2026, picking 26 players for the finals. Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard lead a side that won its qualifying group ahead of Italy.
Qualification wasn’t just successful. It was perfect. Norway won all eight matches, scored 37 goals, and beat Italy home and away. This squad lands in North America with real belief and one of the tournament’s most feared attacks.
Norway Quick Facts:
- Country: Norway
- Confederation: UEFA
- Nickname: Løvene (The Lions)
- Head Coach: Ståle Solbakken
- Captain: Martin Ødegaard
- Group: Group I
- Group Opponents: France, Senegal, Iraq
- First Match: June 16 vs Iraq, Boston Stadium, 6:00 PM ET
- Last Group Match: June 26 vs France, Boston Stadium, 3:00 PM ET
- FIFA Ranking: 31st (June 11, 2026)
- World Cup Appearance: Fourth
- Kit Manufacturer: Nike
Norway Squad List for World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers
- Ørjan Nyland, 35, Sevilla (Spain)
- Egil Selvik, 28, Watford (England)
- Sander Tangvik, 23, Hamburger SV (Germany)
Defenders
- Kristoffer Ajer, 28, Brentford (England)
- Leo Skiri Østigård, 26, Genoa (Italy)
- Julian Ryerson, 28, Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- David Møller Wolfe, 24, Wolverhampton Wanderers (England)
- Fredrik André Bjørkan, 27, Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
- Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, 25, Torino (Italy)
- Torbjørn Heggem, 27, Bologna (Italy)
- Sondre Langås, 25, Derby County (England)
- Henrik Falchener, 23, Viking (Norway)
Midfielders
- Martin Ødegaard (C), 27, Arsenal (England)
- Sander Berge, 28, Fulham (England)
- Patrick Berg, 28, Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
- Fredrik Aursnes, 30, Benfica (Portugal)
- Kristian Thorstvedt, 27, Sassuolo (Italy)
- Morten Thorsby, 30, Cremonese (Italy)
- Thelo Aasgaard, 24, Rangers (Scotland)
Forwards
- Erling Haaland, 25, Manchester City (England)
- Alexander Sørloth, 30, Atlético Madrid (Spain)
- Jørgen Strand Larsen, 26, Crystal Palace (England)
- Antonio Nusa, 21, RB Leipzig (Germany)
- Oscar Bobb, 22, Fulham (England)
- Andreas Schjelderup, 22, Benfica (Portugal)
- Jens Petter Hauge, 26, Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
Nyland is the oldest in the group at 35. Antonio Nusa is the youngest at 21. The squad mixes established stars like Sørloth and Berge with young attackers in Nusa, Bobb and Schjelderup. It’s a blend of prime quality and youth.
English clubs dominate the list. Six players come from the Premier League, led by Haaland and Ødegaard. Italy’s Serie A supplies five more, including three defenders. Bodø/Glimt send three players from the home league.
Fixtures
Norway play all three group stage matches in the United States. Local kick off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) for the host venues and Central European Summer Time (CEST) for fans watching at home. The full tournament schedule covers every group match.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) | Time (CEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16 | Iraq vs Norway | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | 6:00 PM | 12:00 AM (June 17) |
| June 22 | Norway vs Senegal | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford | 8:00 PM | 2:00 AM (June 23) |
| June 26 | Norway vs France | Boston Stadium, Foxborough | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
The top two teams in each group reach the knockout rounds automatically. The eight best third placed teams also advance to the Round of 32. Norway have the quality to chase a top two finish.
Iraq on June 16 is the must win opener. Senegal on June 22 bring pace and a strong defence after reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final. France on June 26 could decide first place, with Haaland set to face Kylian Mbappé.
Manager: Ståle Solbakken
Ståle Solbakken is 58 years old. The Norwegian took charge of his national team on December 7, 2020. He is the first Norway manager in almost three decades to reach a World Cup, having missed Euro 2024 and the 2022 finals earlier in his tenure.
Solbakken played as a midfielder for Wimbledon during the 1997/98 Premier League season. He suffered a cardiac arrest in training at Copenhagen in 2001 and was clinically dead for several minutes before doctors revived him.
His coaching brought far more success. He won multiple Danish league titles with FC Copenhagen and later managed in Germany and England. With Norway he has now overseen more than 50 matches.
Solbakken favours a 4-3-3 built on a high press and quick possession. Norway move the ball fast and break at speed when space opens. Ødegaard links midfield to attack while Haaland stretches defences.
Star Player: Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is 25 years old. He plays as a striker for Manchester City and arrives at his first major tournament. For a player of his stature, the long wait has felt strange. Now he finally gets a World Cup stage.
Haaland is Norway’s all time top scorer with 55 goals, more than any player in the country’s history. He reached 50 international goals faster than anyone before him, needing just 46 appearances.
The qualifying campaign belonged to him. Haaland scored 16 goals in eight matches. He hit five in the 11-1 rout of Moldova and a hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Israel. European defences simply couldn’t contain him.
His club season brought another Premier League Golden Boot and 27 league goals. There’s a fitting personal thread too. His father Alfie played at the 1994 World Cup, also staged in the United States.
Key Players to Watch
Antonio Nusa
Antonio Nusa is 21 years old and plays as a winger for RB Leipzig. He’s the youngest member of the squad and one of its most exciting. His pace, dribbling and directness can unsettle any full back at the tournament.
Nusa already has more than 20 caps for his country. A breakout World Cup would lift his profile further. Solbakken can use him from the start or as an impact option off the bench.
Martin Ødegaard
Martin Ødegaard is 27 and captains both Norway and Arsenal. He’s the creative heartbeat of the team, a playmaker who sets the tempo. His vision turns Norway’s possession into clear chances for Haaland and Sørloth.
Fitness is the worry. Ødegaard endured an injury hit club season and missed the March friendlies. He did captain Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years, so his confidence should be high.
Alexander Sørloth
Alexander Sørloth is 30 and plays for Atlético Madrid. He’s a physical, accomplished striker who can partner Haaland or replace him. His La Liga goals prove he can finish against organised defences.
Sørloth has more than 25 international goals for Norway. That record makes him one of the team’s most reliable scorers. When opponents focus on Haaland, Sørloth punishes the space they leave.
Qualification Path and World Cup History
Norway won their qualifying group with a perfect record. Eight matches brought eight wins, 37 goals scored, and just five conceded. They finished above Italy, who dropped into the playoffs.
The wins over Italy stood out most. Norway beat the four time champions 3-0 at home and 4-1 in Milan. The 11-1 thrashing of Moldova showed their attacking ceiling.
Norway’s World Cup history is short but proud. The 2026 finals mark their fourth appearance after 1938, 1994 and 1998. Their best runs reached the Round of 16 in 1938 and 1998. Across those tournaments they have played eight matches, winning two and drawing three.
The 1998 team left the deepest mark. Norway beat Brazil 2-1 in the group stage, a result that still defines them. They remain the only nation never to lose to Brazil. Italy ended their run in the last 16 that year.
What to Expect and Our Prediction
Solbakken’s 4-3-3 leans on fast transitions and Haaland staying central. Norway press high and feed wide players like Nusa to create overloads. With Ødegaard pulling the strings, the attack can hurt anyone.
The defence is the question mark. Norway rarely faced elite attacks in qualifying, so the back line stays untested at this level. Senegal’s pace and France’s firepower will probe it hard.
Iraq is a winnable opener that Norway should control. Senegal is the toughest middle game and likely the decider for second place. The clash with France on the final day may settle who tops the group.
Best case, Norway top Group I and reach the quarter finals. Worst case, the defence cracks and they finish third. The likely path lands between the two, advancing from the group with Haaland among the goals.
Norway World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs
Who is the oldest player in Norway’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Ørjan Nyland is the oldest at 35. The goalkeeper plays for Sevilla in Spain and has more than 65 caps. He brings calm and experience as Norway’s likely first choice.
How many Premier League players are in Norway’s squad?
Six players come from the Premier League. They are Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Jørgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Sander Berge (Fulham) and Oscar Bobb (Fulham).
Which Norway player came out of international retirement?
Fredrik Aursnes returned after stepping away from the national team in 2024. The Benfica midfielder reversed his decision to help Norway’s World Cup push. His comeback adds control to the midfield.
How many squad players are based in Norway?
Four players come from the Eliteserien. Fredrik André Bjørkan, Patrick Berg and Jens Petter Hauge all play for Bodø/Glimt. Centre back Henrik Falchener joins them from Viking.
What kit will Norway wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Norway wear Nike at the tournament. The home shirt uses a red base with a navy cross outlined in white. The design pays tribute to the 1997 home kit from their last golden era.
Has Norway played at a World Cup in the United States before?
Yes. Norway competed at the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States. They won one match but went out in the group stage. Their 2026 return brings them back to familiar ground.
The Norway World Cup 2026 Squad ends a 28 year absence with serious firepower. Haaland and Ødegaard headline a group full of Premier League and Serie A talent. The attack can trouble anyone, while the defence carries the doubts. Solbakken’s side arrive as one of the tournament’s true dark horses.
