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Sport

Michael Yokhin

Norway World Cup 2026 squad: Erling Haaland rested as sweeping changes made for top of the group clash vs France

Stale Solbakken Norway World Cup Erling Haaland World Cup 2026 the World Cup Manchester City Oscar Bobb Oslo FourFourTwo

Erling Haaland pulls his yoga pose celebration during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 10, 2026 in Greensboro, United States.

DON'T MISS THE MATCH

TV & Streaming Guide: How to watch France vs Norway tonight
Opposition Scout: Check out the full France World Cup squad here

Norway are at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and they're not there to make up the numbers.

Led by the otherworldly goalscoring record of Erling Haaland, Norway qualified for World Cup 2026 with ease. They finished ahead of Italy with the help of no fewer than 37 goals and eight wins in eight.

Drawn into Group I with Iraq, France and Senegal, Stale Solbakken and Norway are demanding of themselves that they leave their mark on a first World Cup for 28 years.

Who is the Norway manager?

Stale Solbakken is lifted into the air by players of Norway as they celebrate victory (Image credit: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Stale Solbakken is the manager who harnessed the supercharged qualifying power of Haaland to steer Norway to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Appointed in 2020, the national team job is Solbakken's first in Norwegian football since he left HamKam in 2005. Spells at Copenhagen bookended time in the Bundesliga with Cologne and the English Championship as the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Solbakken won the Danish title both as a manager and with two different clubs as a player. Now 58 years old, he won 58 caps for Norway's senior side.

Confirmed Norway vs France line ups

Norway (4-3-3): Selvik; Aursnes, Falchener, Ostigard, Bjorkan; Thorstvedt, Berg, Aasgaard; Schjelderup, Strand Larsen, Bobb

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Kone, Dembele, Olise, Doue: Mbappe

Leading the Norwegians in North America are rival pillars of the Premier League's top two: captain Martin Odegaard and all-time scorer Erling Haaland are dual talismans for manager Stale Solbakken and would get into most sides at the competition.

There is plenty more attacking talent beyond that, too: Oscar Bobb and Antonio Nusa represent the next generation, while Jorgan Strand Larsen and Alexander Sorloth are two more target men in the 26.

Behind that, Sander Berge anchors the midfield, with the likes of Julian Ryerson and Kristoffer Ajer behind.

While there's plenty of talent in this group, not too much is expected of a Norway side that hasn't been on this stage for a long time – though Haaland could be among the Golden Boot contenders after a flying start.

Mood

The Golden Generation have finally done it. Just when Norwegian fans began to wonder – only half in jest – whether recent European exploits meant Stale Solbakken should just pick nine Bodo/Glimt outfielders, plus maybe Erling Haaland, the Landslaget have ended a 28-year World Cup absence.

Norway reached the France 98 last 16, beating Brazil in the groups, and expectations now are arguably even higher after a devastating – this time for all the right reasons – qualifying campaign. Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard lead the way, but there’s solidity everywhere, with a fearlessness and optimism that could do serious damage.

Lesson from qualifying

Foot to the floor. Norway qualified with a perfect record: eight wins in eight, 37 goals scored, only five conceded. Beating Moldova by an aggregate 16-1 was hardly surprising, but thrashing Italy 3-0 in Oslo and 4-1 at San Siro provided a confidence boost after debilitating past qualifying defeats.

Squad

Norway's World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection

GK: Orjan Nyland (Sevilla)
GK: Egil Selvik (Watford)
GK: Sander Tangvik (Hamburger SV)
DF: Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford)
DF: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund)
DF: Leo Ostigard (Genoa)
DF: Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino)
DF: David Moller Wolfe (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
DF: Fredrik Andre Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt)
DF: Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna)
DF: Sondre Langas (Derby County)
DF: Henrik Falchener (Viking)
MF: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
MF: Sander Berge (Fulham)
MF: Patrick Berg (Bodo/Glimt)
MF: Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo)
MF: Morten Thorsby (Cremonese)
MF: Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)
MF: Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica)
MF: Oscar Bobb (Fulham)
MF: Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt)
MF: Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica)
MF: Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers)
FW: Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid)
FW: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
FW: Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace)

Fixtures

June 26, 2026: Norway vs France , Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States
September 24, 2026: Norway vs Denmark , Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
September 27, 2026: Norway vs Portugal , Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
October 1, 2026: Wales vs Norway , Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
October 4, 2026: Portugal vs Norway , Portugal
November 14, 2026: Norway vs Wales , Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
November 17, 2026: Denmark vs Norway , Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark

Who is Norway's star player?

Norway striker Erling Haaland (Image credit: Getty Images)

Erling Haaland is finally representing his nation at a major tournament. The striker scored a staggering 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifiers to help his team on their way to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Haaland is ranked at no.5 in FourFourTwo's list of the best strikers in the world right now and at no.3 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest finishers in football history.

Norway will go into the tournament as something of a dark horse; should Haaland play to his full potential, they could cause a major upset in north America.