Honestly, if you haven’t been paying attention to the Norway national football team games lately, you’ve been missing the most chaotic, high-scoring, and frankly terrifying rise in European football. For decades, Norway was just "that team with the nice mountains" that hadn't seen a World Cup since 1998. That’s a 28-year drought. But things have shifted. Hard.
We aren't just talking about Erling Haaland scoring goals—though he does that with the frequency of a metronome. We’re talking about a squad that just steamrolled through World Cup 2026 qualifying Group I with a perfect record. Eight wins. Zero draws. Zero losses. They didn't just beat Italy; they humiliated them 3-0 in Oslo and then turned around and slapped them 4-1 at the San Siro to wrap up the group. It was clinical. It was loud. And for the rest of the world, it was a warning shot.
The Stats That Actually Matter
Let’s look at the numbers because they’re kind of ridiculous. In their eight qualifying matches, Norway scored 37 goals. That is an average of over 4.6 goals per game.
Sure, they put 11 past Moldova in a single night in September 2025, which helps the average, but you can't ignore the consistency. Haaland bagged 16 of those 37 goals himself. He literally tied Robert Lewandowski's record for the most goals in a single European qualifying campaign. But the scary part for opponents isn't just the big guy up front.
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While everyone is staring at Haaland, Martin Ødegaard is essentially playing a different sport in the midfield. Before a knee injury sidelined him late in 2025, the Arsenal captain was carving teams open. He finished the qualifiers with seven assists, more than anyone else in Europe. He’s the "Loki" to Haaland’s "Thor," as some fans have started calling them—one brings the hammer, the other brings the trickery.
A New Golden Generation
It’s easy to call any group of young players a "golden generation," but this feels different. It’s not just the two superstars. Look at the supporting cast that has been showing up in recent Norway national football team games:
- Antonio Nusa: The RB Leipzig winger is basically a walking highlight reel. He’s got that "get off your seat" dribbling style that keeps fullbacks awake at night.
- Oscar Bobb: When he’s healthy, his technical ability in tight spaces gives Norway a level of finesse they simply didn't have five years ago.
- The "Other" Forwards: Alexander Sørloth and Jørgen Strand Larsen are starting-caliber strikers in top leagues. Most teams would kill for one of them; Norway brings them off the bench or plays them alongside Haaland in a physical frontline that is basically a nightmare to defend on set pieces.
The defense used to be the "uh-oh" part of the team. It was leaky. They’d score three and give up four. But Ståle Solbakken has tightened things up. Bringing in guys like Kristoffer Ajer and Leo Østigård has given them a spine. They only conceded five goals in those eight qualifying matches.
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What’s Next: The Road to 2026
So, where does this leave them? Norway has already booked their tickets to North America for the 2026 World Cup. The draw has placed them in Group I (ironically the same letter as their qualifying group). They’ll be facing France and Senegal, plus a winner from the play-offs.
Mark your calendars for June 16, 2026. That’s when they open their campaign at Boston Stadium. Then they head to the New York New Jersey Stadium on June 22 to face Senegal. This isn't just about showing up anymore. With a squad this deep, people are legitimately calling them the "dark horse" of the entire tournament.
The hype is real because the results are real. Norway is no longer a team that relies on a single star. They are a high-pressing, goal-scoring machine that seems to enjoy making big teams look ordinary. If you're looking for a team to root for that plays fast, aggressive, and slightly unhinged football, this is it.
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How to Follow the Team
If you're trying to keep up with the Norway national football team games moving forward, here is the immediate plan for the "Landslaget" faithful:
- Watch the Friendlies: Before the World Cup starts, Norway has high-profile friendlies scheduled against the Netherlands (March 27) and Switzerland (March 31). These are the real tests to see if they can handle top-tier European pressure outside of a qualifying format.
- Monitor the Injury Report: The biggest concern right now is Martin Ødegaard’s knee. Norway is a different beast without their captain. If he’s at 100% by June, the ceiling for this team is the semi-finals. If he’s hobbled, they’ll rely more on long balls to Haaland, which is effective but predictable.
- Check the Squad Depth: Keep an eye on the younger players like Andreas Schjelderup and Sivert Mannsverk. If these guys get minutes in the spring friendlies, it means Solbakken is looking to rotate heavily during the condensed World Cup schedule.
The wait is finally over. After nearly three decades, Norway is back on the world stage, and they aren't there to take pictures of the Statue of Liberty. They're there to score goals. Lots of them.