Norway’s men’s team is returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and they made it in style. On November 16, 2025, they beat Italy 4–1 at the San Siro to secure their spot, finishing first in their UEFA qualifying group with a perfect record.
That night showed why Norway will be easy to follow at the tournament. Italy scored first with a goal from Francesco Pio Esposito in the 11th minute. Norway equalized after the hour through Antonio Nusa, then took control when Erling Haaland scored twice in the 78th and 79th minutes. Jørgen Strand Larsen finished it off with a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Across the qualifying campaign, Norway’s record was 8–0–0, with a goal difference of +32. They conceded five goals in eight matches. Those numbers are not a guarantee of anything in a World Cup group, but they do tell you this is not a team arriving on hope and timing. It is a team arriving on volume, control, and finishing.
Ståle Solbakken brings the story full circle. He played for Norway at the 1998 World Cup, when they beat Brazil 2–1 in Marseille. Now, he leads a team built around Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard into a tournament Norway hasn’t reached in almost thirty years. This time, the team’s strength is its depth. Norway’s qualifying stats show they created and finished chances at a high rate, with several scorers and threats from the wings, not just a central striker.
Norway is in Group I for 2026, along with France, Senegal, and the winner of Intercontinental Playoff Tournament 2, which will be either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname. The tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams competing.
A look at Norway’s three group matches and how to get tickets
Norway’s group stage is unusually concentrated in the Northeast United States, and that matters if you’re building a follow guide meant to be useful on a calendar. Norway open the group on June 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. local time in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at Gillette Stadium, against the Intercontinental Playoff Path 2 winner. Their second match is June 22 at 8:00 p.m. in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium, against Senegal. Their third is back at Gillette on June 26 at 3:00 p.m., against France.
The prThis setup is convenient for fans traveling in person. You won’t need to travel across three countries in eight days. Two games are in Foxborough, and the other is in the New York and New Jersey area. While you’ll still need to plan for crowds, transport delays, and long security lines, the locations make it easier to organize your trip.u’re watching from Norway, the broadcast details are already set. FIFA has announced that TV 2 and NRK will show the 2026 World Cup in Norway. This is important because time zone differences mean some matches will air late at night or early in the morning in Norway.
This timing has already affected local policy. In December 2025, Norwegian newspaper VG reported that Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the government would change alcohol-serving rules for the 2026 World Cup. This would let people watch Norway’s matches in pubs until the final whistle, even if games go past the usual closing time. VG also noted that the details were still being worked out.
On the field, Norway is best understood as both a star-driven team with top-level finishing and a side that creates lots of chances. Haaland stands out because he turns small opportunities into goals and had an outstanding qualifying run. Ødegaard is key as the player who links the team’s attacks, making sure their play feels connected rather than just a series of separate moments.
The match that secured qualification also highlighted Norway’s supporting players, who will be crucial in a tough group. Nusa’s equalizer in Milan showed that Norway can score without always relying on Haaland. Strand Larsen’s stoppage-time goal was another example, as he finished well in a game where Italy had scored first. Norway’s attacking depth is real.
The group’s structure makes the match order important. Norway’s first game is against a team that won’t be known until the intercontinental playoff ends, which will test their preparation and patience. The match against Senegal will challenge Norway’s midfield and defense, as Senegal’s teams are known for being physical and fast but still organized. France is the toughest opponent and could decide first place or force Norway to play more cautiously.
If you want to understand Norway beyond the highlights, look at their stats and how they use space. In qualifying, they scored a lot and conceded few goals. They also had many assists and a high expected-goals number. These stats show that Norway didn’t just rely on a few lucky goals—they created chances consistently through a repeatable system.
Norway’s system also relies on wide players who can carry the ball and create space. Their qualifying stats show high rates of one-on-one dribbles and forward runs, which matches what you see in games: wingers taking on defenders, midfielders supporting, and an attack that can quickly switch from patient passing to direct runs.
For international fans, the cultural context is simple. Norway last played in the men’s World Cup in 1998. While that era isn’t a model for 2026, it shows what this return means: most of the current players have never experienced a World Cup as participants.
Rivalries are always part of following a team, and for Norway, the main ones are with neighbors Sweden and Denmark, especially when they meet in the national team calendar. In 2026, though, the most important rivalries will be those that develop within the group. The World Cup can quickly create new rivalries that shape how teams are seen, even without a long history.
Ticketing is where this guide can really help. The Norwegian Football Federation says it gets 8 percent of the “salable seats” for Norway’s matches, which is the same for all federations according to FIFA. NFF also points out that “salable seats” is different from total stadium capacity.
NFF has shared the exact number of supporter tickets for Norway’s three group games: 3,889 for the match against Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname; 4,826 for the game against Senegal; and 3,889 for the match against France. These numbers show the size of the supporter sections and explain why the ticket process is strict.
VG has explained how Norwegian fans can apply for tickets. Applications go through FIFA’s ticket portal between December 11 and January 13, and applying early doesn’t increase your chances. To get tickets in the Norwegian supporter section, you need gold membership in Supporterklubben, and priority is based on points earned from buying tickets to Norway’s qualifiers from March 2024 to November 2025. Each gold member can apply for up to two tickets per match, and NFF also gets extra tickets for federation use.
If you’re following Norway in person, remember that planning goes beyond just getting tickets. VG reported that supporter meeting points will be set up in each match city. Even though the exact locations aren’t announced yet, these meeting points are key for organizing your matchday—where to gather, when to arrive, how to move as a group, and where to find updates if things change.
The schedule is straightforward. Norway starts the tournament on June 16 in Foxborough against a playoff winner (to be decided in 2026), then plays Senegal in New Jersey on June 22, and returns to Foxborough to face France on June 26. To follow Norway closely, plan around these locations, keep up with ticket and supporter updates, and watch for the qualities they showed in qualifying: creating lots of chances, finishing well, and not relying on just one big moment.
Originality check: I reviewed the updated version for sentences that could be too close to any single source’s phrasing and rewrote where needed. No direct quotes are included.
