FOXBORO — Norway qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, its first appearance at the tournament since 1998. The team will play two group stage matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, which will be designated as Boston Stadium for the event.
Norway’s return follows a strong qualifying campaign in which it went undefeated in a group that included Italy. Erling Haaland scored 16 goals in eight qualifying matches, cementing his role as the team’s offensive leader. Norway’s 26-man squad for the tournament was announced on May 21, 2026.
Haaland, Norway’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals, will make his World Cup debut. He reached 50 international goals in just 46 appearances—the fastest in Norway’s history. During the 2025-26 season, he scored 27 goals in the Premier League to win his third consecutive Golden Boot and totaled 38 goals in 52 matches across all competitions for Manchester City. In December 2025, he became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, doing so in 111 appearances.
Midfield control will fall to Martin Odegaard, supported by Sander Berge and Thelo Aasgaard. The forward line also includes Jorgen Strand Larsen, Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb, and Alexander Sorloth. Orjan Haskjold Nyland is expected to start in goal, with Egil Selvik and uncapped Sander Tangvik as backups.
Norway opens its World Cup campaign against Iraq on June 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET at Boston Stadium, followed by a match against France on June 26 at 3 p.m. ET at the same venue. The team will be based in Greensboro, North Carolina, staying at the Grandover Resort & Spa and training at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
“Norway did not sneak through — it bulldozed through, and Haaland did it with the energy of a man who benches small cars for fun and whose hair has its own agent,” analyst Matteo Bonetti said. “Get into the knockouts, and nobody will want to play Norway.”