Norway's national football team, spearheaded by global superstar Erling Haaland, has been handed a formidable challenge in the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their historic qualification, ending a 28-year wait, has been rewarded with a place in a fiercely competitive group alongside reigning giants France and African champions Senegal.
A Historic Qualification Celebrated in Style
The Scandinavian nation secured its first World Cup finals berth since 1998 last month, sparking jubilant scenes. The talismanic Erling Haaland scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Estonia at Oslo's Ullevaal Stadion to seal the deal. In a memorable post-match moment, Haaland dashed to his family's box, roared 'let's f****** have it', and then personally collected a celebratory takeaway order of up to 100 smashed burgers for his teammates.
Norwegian FA president Lisa Klaveness, speaking of that historic night, captured the national mood shift. 'They’ve made me believe,' she said. 'There were some generations where you didn’t believe. Our team can beat anyone at any point.' This sentiment is reinforced by the fact many current players, including Haaland, have fathers who were part of the last World Cup generation in 1994.
The 'Group of Death' Awaits in the USA
The draw in Washington DC presented Norway with a daunting path. Placed in Pot 3, they were widely considered the team to avoid, and their fearsome reputation was confirmed when they landed in a group with France from Pot 1 and Senegal from Pot 2. The final opponent will be one of Bolivia, Iraq, or Suriname.
This collection of heavyweights has led many to label it the tournament's only authentic 'Group of Death'. The reaction was telling: France manager Didier Deschamps wore a slightly forced grin and offered a jovial slap to Norwegian counterpart Stale Solbakken immediately after the pairing was announced.
For Solbakken and his squad, however, this is precisely the blockbuster stage they craved. Haaland, who netted 16 goals during qualifying, averaging two per game, now has the ultimate platform to prove Norway's worth against the world's best.
Echoes of History and a New Challenge
The group stage will be rich with narrative. For France, the opener against Senegal is a re-run of the shocking 2002 World Cup defeat. While that Senegalese team stunned the world, the current iteration, packed with elite European-based talent, is a known force and will fancy another upset after comfortably dealing with England in a recent friendly.
For Norway, the memory of 1994 lingers, where a squad featuring Haaland's father, Alfie, went out on goals scored after finishing level on points with three other teams. The mission now is to advance beyond that stage.
While the expanded 48-team format makes early elimination for top nations harder, Deschamps will not be resting easy. Norway, with their generational talent and renewed belief, present the most dangerous kind of opponent: a hungry one with nothing to lose and a point to prove on the global stage.
