Norway have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and to achieve that milestone they had to finish above Italy in their qualifying group, marking a significant achievement for the national team.
The current generation of Norwegian stars represent some of the biggest clubs in world football, and their collective experience at elite level has helped transform the national side into one of the strongest teams in international football.
They were impressive throughout their qualification campaign and have continued to deliver strong performances in friendly matches ahead of the tournament. Their consistency has contributed to growing confidence around the squad and increased expectations from supporters.
Norway are now widely regarded as one of the teams to watch at the upcoming World Cup, with hopes of either mounting a serious challenge for the title or at least progressing deep into the competition. While fans may remain cautious about their chances of winning the tournament outright, the team are increasingly being viewed as genuine contenders.
Norway’s growing World Cup expectations
Sporten reports that Opta’s supercomputer ranks Norway as the ninth favourite team to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, assigning them a 3.36% chance of lifting the trophy.
Although those figures place them outside the leading favourites, their ranking above Belgium highlights the progress this group has made in recent years and reflects the growing recognition of their development on the international stage.
The presence of key players such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard has been central to Norway’s rise. Their leadership, quality and experience at the highest level have helped elevate the team’s overall performance and competitiveness.
Key players driving Norway forward
With Haaland and Odegaard leading the squad, Norway have become one of the most closely watched nations heading into the tournament. Their ability to influence matches at club level has translated into stronger performances on the international stage.
As the World Cup approaches, Norway will be determined to maintain their form and meet the expectations that now surround them. The coming days will reveal whether they can translate their promising status into sustained success on football’s biggest stage.
