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FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
James Roberts

Why Norway are the 2026 World Cup dark horses... and they don't even need to rely on Erling Haaland

The Norway team pose for a photo prior to the international friendly match between Norway and Switzerland at Ullevaal Stadion on March 31, 2026 in Oslo, Norway.

Norway's World Cup pedigree is modest, to say the least.

With just three appearances at the finals prior to World Cup 2026, the Scandinavian nation have qualified fewer times than Iran, Bulgaria and Algeria. They have won only two games at the tournament in their history and have progressed beyond the first round just once, when they reached the last 16 in 1998.

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