In a matter of months, the Norway national football team has gone from waiting 28 years to being the talk of world football. Failing to qualify for four of their last five World Cups and all European Championships since 2000, Ståle Solbakken’s side blitzed through qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an eight-win streak before building on that momentum on soccer’s biggest stage a quarter-final run based around Erling Haaland goals, Martin Ødegaard creativity and a defensively disciplined counter-attacking game plan.
On the pitch, Norway is arguably already among the elite of world football with one of Norwegian football’s finest-ever results coming when they stunned five-time champions Brazil to win 2-1 in the Round of 16. This Norway side, boasting a golden generation in the shape of Haaland, Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sørloth and Oscar Bobb is hailed as potentially the best since Egil Olsen’s “Drillo” era of the 1990s.
This article contains information on everything to do with the Norway national football team — campaign, history, current squad, coaching staff, FIFA ranking and honours — which was updated for the 2026 season.
Norway National Football Team Overview
| Category | Details |
| Country | Norway |
| Football Association | Norges Fotballforbund (NFF) |
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
| Nickname | Løvene (The Lions); Drillos (historic) |
| FIFA Code | NOR |
| Home Stadium | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo |
| Head Coach | Ståle Solbakken |
| Captain | Martin Ødegaard |
| Vice-Captain | Erling Haaland |
| Most Capped Player | John Arne Riise (110 caps) |
| All-Time Top Scorer | Erling Haaland (55 goals) |
Norway National Football Team Current Squad (2026)
Norway’s squad has been built around a strong Premier League and Serie A core, mixing experienced defenders with an explosive, young attacking unit.
Goalkeepers
- Ørjan Nyland (Sevilla)
- Mathias Dyngeland (Brann)
- Sander Tangvik (Hamburger SV)
Defenders
- Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford)
- Leo Skiri Østigård (Genoa)
- David Møller Wolfe (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
- Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund)
- Fredrik André Bjørkan (Bodø/Glimt)
- Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino)
- Torbjørn Heggem (Bologna)
- Sondre Klingen Langås (Derby County)
Midfielders
- Morten Thorsby (Genoa)
- Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt)
- Sander Berge (Fulham)
- Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo)
- Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)
- Oscar Bobb (Fulham)
- Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers)
- Aron Dønnum (Toulouse)
- Martin Ødegaard, captain (Arsenal)
Forwards
- Alexander Sørloth (Atlético Madrid)
- Erling Haaland, vice-captain (Manchester City)
- Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica)
- Jørgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace)
Squad Table (Key Players)
| No. | Player | Position | Club | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Ørjan Nyland | GK | Sevilla | 67 | 0 |
| 3 | Kristoffer Ajer | DF | Brentford | 48 | 2 |
| 14 | Julian Ryerson | DF | Borussia Dortmund | 39 | 1 |
| 6 | Patrick Berg | MF | Bodø/Glimt | 39 | 0 |
| 8 | Sander Berge | MF | Fulham | 62 | 1 |
| 20 | Antonio Nusa | MF | RB Leipzig | 20 | 7 |
| MF | Martin Ødegaard (C) | MF | Arsenal | 67 | 4 |
| 7 | Alexander Sørloth | FW | Atlético Madrid | 68 | 26 |
| 9 | Erling Haaland (VC) | FW | Manchester City | 48 | 55 |
| 11 | Jørgen Strand Larsen | FW | Crystal Palace | 24 | 4 |
Norway National Football Team Coaching Staff
Head Coach
Ståle Solbakken has led Norway since December 2020. A former Norway international himself, Solbakken ended the country’s 28-year World Cup drought by guiding the side through a perfect qualifying campaign, capped by a 4-1 win over Italy in Milan.
Assistant Coaches
- Kent Bergersen — Assistant Coach
Goalkeeping and Technical Staff
- Bjørn Vidar Stenersen — Fitness Coach
- Andy Findlay and Pål Fjelde — Match Analysts
- Brede Hangeland — Sports Coordinator
- Mario Pafundi — Physiotherapist
- Johannes Marthinussen — Sports Scientist
- Bryant Lazaro — Chief Instructor
- Bård Wiggen — Team Manager
Norway National Football Team FIFA World Ranking (2026)
Current FIFA Ranking
As of that June 2026 update, Norway had an official FIFA ranking of 31st-32nd place but have catapulted themselves up the unofficial live rankings due to their World Cup heroics. Norway had already risen to approximately 21st before their Round of 16 showdown against Brazil, and the ultra-important victory over the five-time champions is anticipated to power them even higher when FIFA’s next official update drops on July 20, 2026.
FIFA Ranking History Table (2018–2026)
| Year | Approximate Ranking | Notes |
| 2018 | 60s | Post-Euro 2016/18 qualifying miss |
| 2019 | 50s | Nations League debut |
| 2020 | 40s | Solbakken era begins |
| 2021 | 40s | Missed 2022 World Cup qualification |
| 2022 | 40s | Missed Euro 2024 qualification |
| 2023 | 50s | Rebuilding phase |
| 2024 | 40s | Nations League promotion to League A |
| 2025 | 30s | Perfect World Cup qualifying campaign |
| 2026 | Low 20s (live) | World Cup quarter-finalists |
Also read this: Mexico national football team | France football team | Brazil national football team players
Norway National Football Team Fixtures (2026)
Upcoming Matches
Norway’s immediate focus is the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, followed by the UEFA Nations League A campaign in the autumn.
Fixtures Table
| Date | Fixture | Competition |
| July 2026 | vs England | FIFA World Cup — Quarter-final |
| 24 September 2026 | vs Denmark | UEFA Nations League A, Group 4 |
| 27 September 2026 | vs Portugal | UEFA Nations League A, Group 4 |
| 1 October 2026 | at Wales | UEFA Nations League A, Group 4 |
| 4 October 2026 | at Portugal | UEFA Nations League A, Group 4 |
| 14 November 2026 | TBD | International Friendly / Nations League |
| 17 November 2026 | TBD | International Friendly / Nations League |
Norway National Football Team Recent Results
Last 10 Matches (Selected, 2025–2026)
Norway have been in excellent recent form, winning the large majority of their matches across World Cup qualifying and the tournament itself.
Results Table
| Date | Fixture | Result | Competition |
| 5 July 2026 | Brazil 1-2 Norway | Win | World Cup — Round of 16 |
| 30 June 2026 | Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast | Win | World Cup — Round of 32 |
| 26 June 2026 | Norway 1-4 France | Loss | World Cup — Group Stage |
| 22 June 2026 | Norway 3-2 Senegal | Win | World Cup — Group Stage |
| 17 June 2026 | Norway 4-1 Iraq | Win | World Cup — Group Stage |
| 16 November 2025 | Italy 1-4 Norway | Win | World Cup Qualifying |
| 13 November 2025 | Norway 1-1 Estonia | Draw | World Cup Qualifying |
| 14 October 2025 | Norway 2-1 New Zealand | Win | Friendly |
| 11 October 2025 | Israel vs Norway | Win | World Cup Qualifying |
| 9 September 2025 | Norway 8-0 Moldova | Win | World Cup Qualifying |
Norway won all eight of their World Cup qualifying matches, finishing top of their group and eliminating Italy from automatic qualification with a stunning 4-1 away win in Milan.
Norway National Football Team Standings
UEFA Nations League
Norway finished first in their League B group in the 2024–25 Nations League to gain promotion, and will compete in League A at Group 4 from September 2026 with Denmark, Portugal and Wales.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Norway topped their group with a perfect record, winning 8 from 8 games (37 goals for and only 5 against)
UEFA Euro Qualifiers
Next up for Norway is the 2027 European Championship qualifying campaign, this one for Euro 2028. More recently, they missed out on qualifying for Euro 2024 from a tough group involving Spain and Scotland.
Standings Table (World Cup Qualification, Group I)
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Norway | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 24 |
| Italy | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 19 |
| Israel | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Estonia | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moldova | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Norway National Football Team FIFA World Cup Record
World Cup Appearances
Norway has appeared at the FIFA World Cup four times: 1938, 1994, 1998, and 2026. Their 2026 run has already produced the best World Cup performance in the nation’s history.
Performance Table
| Year | Result |
| 1938 | Round of 16 |
| 1994 | Group Stage |
| 1998 | Round of 16 |
| 2026 | Quarter-final (best-ever result) |
Norway is one of only three national teams never to have lost to Brazil, having beaten them at the 1998 World Cup and again in the 2026 Round of 16, alongside two draws.
Norway National Football Team UEFA European Championship Record
Euro Appearances
Norway has qualified for the European Championship just once, in 2000, exiting at the group stage.
Performance Table
| Year | Result |
| 2000 | Group Stage |
Norway has missed every European Championship since 2000, including 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, making their current World Cup breakthrough all the more significant.
Norway National Football Team UEFA Nations League Record
Season-by-Season Performance
| Season | Division | Group | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Result |
| 2018–19 | League C | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | Group winners |
| 2020–21 | League B | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 2nd |
| 2022–23 | League B | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2nd |
| 2024–25 | League B | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | Promoted to League A |
| 2026–27 | League A | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
Norway National Football Team UEFA European Championship Record
- Biggest Win
Norway 12–0 Finland (Bergen, 28 June 1946)
- Biggest Defeat
Copenhagen, 7 October 1917: Denmark 12–0 Norway
- Highest FIFA Ranking
2nd place (October 1993, and July–August 1995), under legendary coach Egil “Drillo” Olsen
- Longest Winning Streak
Eight consecutive competitive victories from Norway qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2025–26, amongst the best sequences in the nation’s history.
- Longest Unbeaten Run
With just one (dead rubber group match) defeat to France in over a year of competitive football currently marks their run across qualifying and the World Cup group/knockout stages.
Norway National Football Team Top Goal Scorers
Top 10 Goal Scorers
| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Career |
| 1 | Erling Haaland | 55 | 48 | 2019–present |
| 2 | Jørgen Juve | 33 | 45 | 1928–1937 |
| 3 | Einar Gundersen | 26 | 33 | 1917–1928 |
| 4 | Alexander Sørloth | 26 | 68 | 2016–present |
| 5 | Harald Hennum | 25 | 43 | 1949–1960 |
| 6 | John Carew | 24 | 91 | 1998–2011 |
| 7 | Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 23 | 67 | 1995–2007 |
| 8 | Tore André Flo | 23 | 76 | 1995–2004 |
| 9 | Gunnar Thoresen | 22 | 64 | 1946–1959 |
| 10 | Steffen Iversen | 21 | 79 | 1998–2011 |
Erling Haaland’s scoring rate of 1.15 goals per game is the best in Norwegian history by a wide margin, and he is closing in fast on Jørgen Juve’s decades-old record tally.
Norway National Football Team Most Capped Players
Top Appearance Makers
| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
| 1 | John Arne Riise | 110 | 16 | 2000–2013 |
| 2 | Thorbjørn Svenssen | 104 | 0 | 1947–1962 |
| 3 | Henning Berg | 100 | 9 | 1992–2004 |
| 4 | Erik Thorstvedt | 97 | 0 | 1982–1996 |
| 5 | John Carew | 91 | 24 | 1998–2011 |
| 6 | Brede Hangeland | 91 | 4 | 2002–2014 |
| 7 | Øyvind Leonhardsen | 86 | 19 | 1990–2003 |
| 8 | Morten Gamst Pedersen | 83 | 17 | 2004–2014 |
| 9 | Kjetil Rekdal | 83 | 17 | 1987–2000 |
| 10 | Steffen Iversen | 79 | 21 | 1998–2011 |
Norway National Football Team Star Players (2026)
Erling Haaland
Haaland is Norway’s vice-captain and all-time leading scorer, with the forward being instrumental in their first-ever World Cup qualification by netting seven times at the tournament so far including both goals against Brazil in the Round of 16.
Martin Ødegaard
Yes, the Arsenal captain guides Norway as their national team captain, directing play in the midfield with his passing range and creativity, while also being the heart and soul of the side tactically and emotionally.
Alexander Sørloth
Considered by many to be second only to Haaland in terms of aerial and goal-scoring threats, the Atlético Madrid striker offers Norway a rival for 26 international goals.
Antonio Nusa
Known for his blistering speed and being direct on the counter, the RB Leipzig winger is one of Norway’s most potent attacking weapons having played a big role in their 3-0 victory against Ivory Coast.
Oscar Bobb
Adding the Fulham attacking midfielder gives Norway even more flexible creativity in their attack with a player than can play across various positions.
Jørgen Strand Larsen
The Crystal Palace striker offers presence and competition up front, giving Solbakken another direct route-one attacking option.
Norway National Football Team Playing Style
Preferred Formation
Solbakken predominantly uses a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system based on defensive organisation, and quick transitions.
Tactical Analysis
The manner norway does not seek expression between possession. As opposed to doing anything of the sort, they create a small defensive block and look to absorb pressure before hitting on the break through Nusa’s speed and Haaland’s movement in behind before using their aerial advantages — especially at set pieces or deliveries into the box — in important moments (see: both goals).
Strengths
- Haaland and Sørloth delivering world-class finishing
- Elite creativity from Ødegaard
- Pace on the counter through Nusa and Bobb
- Good physical presence benefitting from set pieces
- Well-organized defensive shape
Weaknesses
- Only one pass built up volume (compared to) against teams that high-press you when possessed
- Lack of experience in knockout-stage football ahead of 2026
- The squad depth behind the first XI is still not quite at a level where it can make an impact
Norway National Football Team Honors & Achievements
Major Titles
Norway has not won a major senior international trophy, but the men’s team claimed bronze at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
International Achievements
- 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists (best-ever World Cup performance)
- Perfect 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign (8 wins from 8)
- 2024–25 UEFA Nations League League B group winners and promotion to League A
- 1936 Olympic Games bronze medal
Honors Table
| Competition | Best Result | Year |
| FIFA World Cup | Quarter-final | 2026 |
| UEFA European Championship | Group Stage | 2000 |
| Summer Olympics | Bronze Medal | 1936 |
| UEFA Nations League | Promoted to League A | 2024–25 |
Norway National Football Team Honors & Achievements
vs Sweden
Norwegian football’s oldest and most bitter rivalry: 111 encounters, with Norway winning just 26 of them (drawing 26) following each other up to October 2023.
vs Denmark
Another of the Scandinavian long-standing rivalries: 91 matches, Norway winning 21, drawing fifteen times and losing 55.
vs England
The two sides now meet again as 2026 World Cup quarter-finalists in a heavyweight modern day encounter, having met only twice since at Euro2000 where Norway won both times.
vs Germany
15 meetings, with Norway managing a mere 2 victories at the expense of 9 defeats detailing Germany’s historical dominance in the clash.
Head-to-Head Table
| Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
| Sweden | 111 | 26 | 26 | 59 | 22% |
| Denmark | 91 | 21 | 15 | 55 | 23% |
| England | 16 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12% |
| Germany | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 13% |
| Brazil | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% |
Norway National Football Team Home Stadium
Stadium Information
Norway has had its major home venue in Oslo with Ullevaal Stadion notorious for being the likely venue of the national side’s most noteworthy qualifying and competitive games.
Capacity
For international matches, Ullevaal Stadion has a capacity of around 25,000–28,000.
Location
Located in Oslo, Norwegian capital, the stadium is still regarded as the spiritual home of Norweigan football.
Norway National Football Team Home & Away Kit (2026)
Kits have been supplied by Nike since 2015. The home kit is red with blue and white trim; the away kit has traditionally based its design on a white or navy base. Norway matched this home shirt with a special gold-accented version of their crest for the 4-2 win over Italy in November 2025, clinching World Cup qualification and ending a 28-year absence from the tournament. The national crest displays two lions from the national coat of arms flanking the Norwegian flag.
Norway National Football Team Statistics (2026)
| Metric | Total (2025–26 cycle) |
| Matches Played | 12+ (qualifying + World Cup) |
| Wins | 10 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Goals Scored | 45+ |
| Goals Conceded | 10 |
| Clean Sheets | 6 |
Interesting Facts About Norway National Football Team
- Unlike the others, Norway is actually one of the only three national sides never to have suffered a football defeat to Brazil.
- Their undefeated run to the 2016 FIFA World Cup, which saw Norway qualify for the first time in 28 years.
- Norway’s 2026 quarter-final berth is the furthest the nation has ever advanced at a World Cup.
- Haaland Is First Norwegian To Score Multiple Goals In A World Cup Game (Versus Iraq)
- The other member England could not boast of that kind of qualification pedigree: Norway, in fact them won the FIFA Women’s World Cup to become dual World Cup holders (between men and women) in 1995.
- Norway 2-1 England, 1981 The legendary radio commentary: “Your boys took one hell of a beating.”
Future Prospects of Norway National Football Team
Having Haaland, Ødegaard, Nusa and Bobb around or approaching their prime years, the current generation of Norway is well-placed for success beyond 2026. A deep tournament run irrespective of the final result against England will likely fast-track Euro 2028 and more UEFA Nations League success in League A for the federation, with its main challenge now to build squad depth around this core group of players to ensure continued contention across multiple tournament cycles.
Conclusion
An evolution from a country living on the international football edges, Norway National Football Team has become one of the most discussed outfits at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Led by Erling Haaland’s record-breaking goals, Martin Ødegaard’s captaincy and Ståle Solbakken’s pragmatic tactics, Norway reached the last eight with a sensational victory over Brazil en-route – to post their best-ever show at a World Cup and give hope that after many false dawns Norwegian football truly has its golden generation.
FAQs
1. Who is the captain of the Norway national football team?
Martin Ødegaard is Norway’s captain, with Erling Haaland serving as vice-captain.
2. Who is Norway’s all-time top goal scorer?
Erling Haaland is Norway’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals, surpassing longtime record holder Jørgen Juve.
3. Who has the most caps for Norway?
John Arne Riise holds the record with 110 caps for Norway between 2000 and 2013.
4. Who is the head coach of Norway’s national team?
Ståle Solbakken has been Norway’s head coach since December 2020.
5. Has Norway ever won the FIFA World Cup?
No, Norway has never won the FIFA World Cup. Their best-ever result is reaching the quarter-finals at the 2026 tournament.
6. How many times has Norway qualified for the World Cup?
Norway has qualified for the FIFA World Cup four times: 1938, 1994, 1998, and 2026.
7. What is Norway’s home stadium?
Norway plays its home matches at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
