After almost three decades away from football’s biggest stage, Norway is back in the World Cup. The tournament, which is played in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marks the start of a new chapter for the Norwegian national team, which brings with it one of the most talented generations ever. With stars on the team, as well as an experienced coach in Ståle Solbakken, we believe that Norway has ambitions to make an impression in North America.
A tough start in Group I
Norway has been drawn to Group I, along with France, Senegal and the winner of FIFA Playoff 2, which could be Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq. France are favourites with Didier Deschamps as coach and stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, while Senegal have shown strength throughout the qualifiers and will probably be Norway’s main competitor for second place. Norway’s key matches in the group stage will be against Senegal and France. How Norway handles these games will likely determine whether they advance to the knockout phase.
Can Norway go far?
What distinguishes Norway from previous generations is the combination of individual class and a holistic team game. Haaland has scored 16 goals in eight qualifying matches, and his goal form and physicality make him a constant threat to even the best defenders in the world. Ødegaard controls the midfield and delivers key passes, while Berge gives the team balance and defensive security. Solbakken has experience from the World Cup as a player, and his tactical flexibility as a coach can be decisive.
Historic scoring form, with 37 goals and only five goals conceded in qualifying, shows both offensive power and defensive solidity. However, even with stars on the team, Norway has no experience of playoffs in major tournaments. Realistically, Norway will be a team that can create surprises and fight their way to the quarterfinals (or semifinals), but winning the entire tournament will be a huge challenge. In any case, we will not be disappointed.
What do the odds say right now?
When looking at betting lists for the 2026 World Cup, the odds give an indication of Norway’s chances. We used the Oddschecker website to compare odds, and Norway are at around 28.00 to win the entire tournament, making them underdogs compared to major nations such as Spain (5.50), England (6.50), France (8.50), Brazil (9.00) and Argentina (9.00). Portugal and Germany follow at 11.00 and 13.00, while the Netherlands are at 21.00. These numbers reflect both Norway’s lack of experience and the tough competition in the World Championships.
When it comes to individual performances, Norway’s star is also highly rated as the top scorer. Haaland is 14.00 to be the tournament’s top scorer, behind favourites such as Kylian Mbappé (7.00), Harry Kane (7.50) and Lionel Messi (13.00), but ahead of Ousmane Dembélé (16.00).
For those who want to bet on Norway’s opportunities or Haaland as the top scorer, there are several reputable football betting sites that provide up-to-date information on odds, and if you follow these closely, you may have a chance of catching some good odds. Betting makes the tournament extra exciting, but remember that it always involves risk.
Summary
Norway enters the 2026 World Cup with great optimism, a strong team and some of the world’s best players. The group is tough, with France and Senegal as serious competitors, but Norway’s offensive power, combined with tactical flexibility, – can provide surprises. The road to the final will be demanding, but even though the chance of winning the entire World Cup may be small, Norway will be an exciting challenger and may write history with its best performance ever.
