Norway World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Haaland's World Cup Debut After 28-Year Wait

Ståle Solbakken named his 26-man Norway squad on May 21, 2026, confirming the return of Norwegian men’s football to the World Cup after 28 years. Erling Haaland — 55 goals in 48 international appearances — makes his long-awaited World Cup debut as the tournament’s most feared striker, captained by Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard in a Group I campaign that pits Norway against France, Senegal, and Iraq.

Last updated: May 21, 2026.

Full 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Erling Haaland makes his World Cup debut at 25 with the most extraordinary international scoring record in modern football: 55 goals in 48 appearances, a rate of 1.15 goals per game that exceeds any striker in World Cup history entering their first tournament. The Manchester City forward is the Golden Boot favorite and the single player most capable of deciding matches through individual scoring output.

Martin Ødegaard captains Norway at his first World Cup — the creative hub whose passing range and game intelligence unlock Haaland’s movement. The Ødegaard-to-Haaland connection, refined over 40+ international matches together, is the most productive captain-to-striker relationship entering the tournament.

Antonio Nusa (21) has developed into one of Europe’s most exciting young wingers at RB Leipzig. His dribbling and pace from the left provide a complementary threat to Haaland’s central presence — defenses cannot fully commit to stopping Haaland if Nusa occupies the wide space.

Oscar Bobb (22) earned his first tournament call-up after a productive Premier League season at Fulham. The former Manchester City academy product provides technical security and creative passing from wide positions.

Notable omissions

Stefan Strandberg (35, Vålerenga) retired from international duty after 36 caps. Mats Møller Dæhli (31, Molde) was on the preliminary list but missed the final 26 after limited minutes in the Eliteserien. Joshua King (34) was not selected — his international career of 20 goals in 62 caps ends with Norway’s World Cup return that he helped build but will not experience.

Ola Solbakken (Roma/Urawa Reds loan) and Hugo Vetlesen (Club Brugge) were on the preliminary list but squeezed out by the depth of Norway’s attacking midfield options.

Tactical outlook

Solbakken’s Norway plays a 4-3-3 built on maximizing the Ødegaard-Haaland axis — the most productive creative-to-finisher connection in international football. Ødegaard operates as the deep-lying playmaker, dropping between lines to receive and deliver progressive passes into Haaland’s runs behind defensive lines. Sander Berge provides the physical presence in midfield that protects Ødegaard’s creative freedom.

The front three is constructed around Haaland’s unique profile: Nusa provides wide dribbling threat from the left, while Bobb or Sørloth offers a different second-striker profile from the right. Sørloth’s aerial ability and hold-up play give Solbakken a tactical alternative — a two-striker approach that can overwhelm opponents late in matches.

Defensively, Norway is organized around Ajer’s Premier League physicality and Ryerson’s Bundesliga experience at right-back. The system’s vulnerability is in central midfield — Ødegaard and Berge are the clear first-choice pairing, and depth behind them (Berg, Thorsby) represents a significant drop in technical quality.

Norway’s perfect qualifying campaign — 8 wins from 8, including two victories over Italy — demonstrated the system works against elite opponents. The team is built to absorb pressure and transition through Ødegaard’s passing into Haaland’s finishing. It is a simple but devastatingly effective formula when both players are fit and in form.

Group I outlook

Norway faces the most dramatic range of outcomes in Group I:

• vs Senegal (Los Angeles, June 15) — The most important match. Senegal’s physicality, tournament experience (2022 Round of 16), and athletic midfield test Norway’s ability to execute their transition game. The Haaland vs Kalidou Koulibaly matchup is the group’s defining individual battle.
• vs Iraq (Los Angeles, June 20) — Iraq’s first World Cup since 1986. Norway should dominate this match, but must break down a compact defensive block — the exact scenario where Ødegaard’s creativity and Haaland’s movement are most valuable.
• vs France (San Francisco, June 23) — The group decider. France’s tournament pedigree and Mbappé’s star power against Norway’s Ødegaard-Haaland axis. The winner likely tops Group I; a draw may suit both teams depending on results elsewhere.

Norway should advance from Group I. If they beat Senegal in the opener, second place is the floor and group victory is possible. France is the favorite, but Norway’s perfect qualifying campaign and the Haaland factor make them the tournament’s most dangerous dark horse — and the team no group winner wants to face in the Round of 32.

Fan planning links

• Group I full analysis
• Los Angeles host city guide
• San Francisco host city guide
• How to watch legally
• Squad tracker — all 48 teams

Sources checked

• NFF (Norwegian Football Federation) official squad announcement
• Goal.com Norway squad projections
• Fox Sports Norway World Cup preview
• myKhel match lineup data