For Norwegian football supporters, World Cup qualifiers have often been characterized by a mixture of hope, frustration and the feeling that “maybe next time”. Since the World Cup in 1998, Norway has time and time again been close, but stumbled on the run-in. Therefore, many people were now asking the same question as we approached the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Here there is little doubt that optimism is higher than it has been for a long time. The Norwegian squad has far greater individual quality than the national team has had in many years, while the World Cup format is changing drastically. When the championship is expanded to 48 teams, it also opens up for more European places than before. This means that the threshold for qualifying is not necessarily as brutal as before.
The strongest Norwegian squad in decades
It’s hard to talk about Norway’s World Cup chances without mentioning how much quality there is in today’s squad. Norwegian players are no longer limited to smaller European leagues, but wreak havoc in some of the most popular in the world. With profiles such as Martin Ødegaard, Erling Braut Haaland and Sander Berge, Norway is stronger than ever before.
They are not only among Norway’s best football players, but have also made a name for themselves at international levels. This also gives the national team a completely different experience than previous generations had. Players who are used to high tempo, international pressure and big games bring this experience into the dressing room.
At the same time, national team football is not just about individual skills. Norway has had good players before, but they have not worked together. Here we see big differences in today’s squad, precisely because they play well as a team. This has given Norway a collective unity that is stronger than ever before.
The 2026 World Cup will be different from previous championships
One of the biggest factors that can help Norway is the format change in the 2026 World Cup. The tournament is expanded from 32 to 48 teams, giving UEFA more qualification spots than before. This not only changes the dynamics of the matches, but also of the qualifiers.
It is precisely this change in combination with the strong team, that has made Norway a relevant candidate. In the past, one weak gathering could in practice ruin the entire qualifying race. Now there will be a little more room for mistakes, especially for nations that are normally just below Europe’s absolute top level, which Norway has typically done.
Norway has already qualified for Group 1, which means that the Norwegian squad will try against Iraq, Senegal and France. Here it is especially France who field a historically strong squad that can present challenges for Norway.
The defensive question could be decisive
Even though Norway has a lot of offensive quality, there are still some analysts who question the balance of the team. Because there is no doubt that players like Haaland and Ødegaard can score goals, but the defensive structures have occasionally shown weaknesses.
What still makes some experts skeptical, is that Norway has shown time and time again that they can score goals against tough opponents, just teams like France. What creates uncertainty, however, is that Norway has conceded unnecessary goals in games where they are expected to dominate.
Here, the team has several times cracked under pressure, as well as shown that defensive organization is not a strength in the team. Pressure height, residual defense and the ability to control the match picture without the ball is something the Norwegian squad has disappointed on several times.
Can Norway actually surprise in the championship?
The big question is therefore not only whether Norway can perform well in the group stage, but how far the team can actually go if they find the flow early. At their best, Norway has shown that they can match most offensively, especially when the counter-attack is in place and the pace is high.
At the same time, the World Cup is a completely different arena than qualification. The margins are small, and one bad quarter of an hour can quickly decide an entire tournament. That is precisely why the matches against nations such as Senegal and Iraq become extra important. If Norway manages to take points early, the confidence in the squad can grow quickly before the clash against France.
Many Norwegian supporters are already following the development closely through analyses, discussions and the betting markets leading up to the championship. Here you can also see that Norway is doing better among the favorites on betting platforms such as Sportaza sportsbook online, than they have done in many years. This is no guarantee of victory, but it shows that the market also has higher faith in the Norwegian national team squad than it has for a long time.
Expectations around Norway are higher than they have been for a long time
It has been a long time since the optimism around the Norwegian national team has been at a similar level as now. In the past, Norway often went into the qualifiers as an outsider without great expectations. This time the situation is different. Many people actually expect Norway to be able to bite the bullet in the World Cup.
The combination of international experience, offensive stars and a more cohesive collective means that many supporters feel this could be the start of a new era for Norwegian football. Although the challenges are still there defensively, there is little doubt that Norway enters the 2026 World Cup with a far stronger starting point than in many years.
