Norway have been in superb form during their qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Norway has not featured in a major international tournament since Euro 2000, while its last appearance at a World Cup dates back to 1998. For the current squad, this represents uncharted territory, as many of the players were born after Norway’s last showing on football’s biggest stage.
Over the years, successive generations of Norwegian footballers have attempted and failed to lead the national side to another World Cup. Now, however, there is genuine optimism that Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland can change the narrative. The duo are the figureheads of a talented and ambitious group of players who are determined to make history by guiding Norway to North America in 2026.
A Team Full of Belief
The early stages of qualification have provided plenty of encouragement. Norway have made an impressive start, collecting vital points and moving within touching distance of securing their place at the tournament. The standout result so far came in their emphatic 11-1 victory over Moldova, a performance that underlined both their attacking firepower and the confidence flowing through the squad.
Following that result, some supporters have begun to look beyond qualification itself, daring to dream of lifting the World Cup trophy. With a team boasting one of the best strikers in the world in Haaland and a highly creative captain in Ødegaard, fans argue that Norway possess the individual quality to compete with the strongest nations on the global stage. While such ambitions may appear bold, the belief is fuelled by the team’s ability to score freely and dominate opponents in recent fixtures.
The Wider Perspective
Despite this growing confidence at home, outside observers remain cautious about Norway’s prospects. According to Sporten, the Norwegians are not even ranked among the top ten favourites to win the World Cup. This assessment suggests that while Norway may be on the rise, they are still regarded as outsiders when compared to more established footballing powers.
Nevertheless, the mood within the country is one of optimism. Securing qualification alone would be a significant milestone, ending a near three-decade absence from the World Cup. For the players and fans alike, the focus remains on taking that crucial step, but the dream of achieving something even greater is beginning to grow louder with every goal they score.