Manchester City’s prolific striker, Erling Haaland, is currently spearheading Norway’s impressive campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers. Haaland leads all scorers with an outstanding nine goals, a testament to his crucial role in guiding the national team. His exceptional form has been instrumental in Norway securing five consecutive victories in Group I, igniting hopes that he could be the catalyst to end the nation’s extended absence from the global football spectacle.
Norway’s history at the World Cup is relatively sparse, with their last appearance dating back to 1998 in France, following previous qualifications in 1938 and 1994. Since the 2002 tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, the Scandinavian nation has been notably absent from football’s premier international competition. However, under the guidance of coach Ståle Solbakken, Norway is showcasing a renewed vigor in the current qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their current trajectory suggests a strong possibility of earning a coveted spot, which would mark their first qualification in 28 years.
In a highly competitive Group I, Norway has demonstrated dominance by securing victories against all their rivals: four-time World Cup champions Italy, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova. After their initial five fixtures out of eight, Solbakken’s squad sits comfortably atop the group with a perfect 15 points. Their closest competitors are Italy and Israel, both tied on nine points, though Italy has played one less match. Estonia trails with three points, while Moldova is yet to register any points. The winner of each European qualifying group automatically secures a berth in the World Cup finals, while the runner-up advances to a subsequent playoff round. Teams finishing lower in the group are eliminated.
Norway’s remarkable run is largely attributed to the stellar performances of several key players, most notably their captain, Martin Ødegaard, and the exceptional Erling Haaland. Out of the 21 goals scored by Norway in these five qualifying matches, Haaland has personally contributed nine, making him the top scorer across all European qualifying groups. The 25-year-old Manchester City forward’s clinical finishing and potent attacking presence have proven to be an unstoppable force, making it challenging for any European opponent to overlook his impact. Haaland’s prolific goal-scoring prowess, combined with the collective efforts of his teammates, is smoothly paving Norway’s path towards what could be their fourth World Cup appearance.
The journey is not over, however. Coach Solbakken’s side still faces three critical matches in Group I. They are set to host Israel on October 11th, followed by a home game against Estonia on November 13th, before concluding their group stage campaign with a challenging away fixture against Italy three days later. These upcoming encounters will be pivotal in determining Norway’s direct qualification fate.
As Norway strives to secure its place, several other nations from various confederations have already punched their tickets to the 2026 World Cup. These early qualifiers are testament to the intensifying race for spots in the expanded tournament, and Norway aims to soon join this growing list of confirmed participants.
