The men’s national football team of Norway is often considered an underdog. It hasn’t had the success of its neighbours, Sweden or Denmark, located nearby. However, the women’s team has been a leader for decades. In this article, we will focus on both sides and talk about the history of Norway’s international football team, the best players from the men’s side and their road to the FIFA World Cup 2026. So, without further ado, let’s begin!
History of the Norway National Football Team
The history of men’s football in Norway can be divided into three different parts.
Inception and Pre-War Era
Norway’s men’s national team played its first international match in 1908. It wasn’t among the super earliest adopters of football, but it did participate in international outings a lot earlier than some other notable countries.
The Scandinavian squad had to wait almost 3 decades for some accolades. The earliest highlight came in 1936 when Norway won a bronze medal at the Berlin Olympics. Interestingly enough, they beat the hosts Germany in the 3rd place match.
This success was followed by a decent appearance in the 1938 FIFA World Cup. After arriving in France, they reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated by the eventual champions, Italy. For football geeks, it’s a noteworthy fact that the match happened in the Stade Velodrome, which is now home to the Marseille Olympique club.
Post-War Until 1990s
The post-war era up to the 1980s was largely a period of struggle for Norway. They failed to qualify for each of the FIFA World Cups between 1954 and 1990 and UEFA Euros between 1960 and 1996. Often, the team finished near the bottom of their qualifying groups.
Despite this, there are some memorable victories, such as a 2-1 defeating of England in 1981, which is famously remembered for the commentator’s enthusiastic “Maggie Thatcher, your boys took a hell of a beating”.
Post 1990s Until Present Day
You could say that the 1990s brought a glimmer of hope and renaissance under coach Egil Olsen.
Norway qualified for the World Cups in 1994 and 1998, reaching the knockout stages in the latter tournament. Returning to France after 60 years, the Scandinavian squad repeated their best-ever result in the competition and even beat the returning champions Brazil in the group stage. Unfortunately, a strong Italy sent them packing after a 1-0 win in the very same Stade Velodrome, which had been the end of their journey in the 1938 World Cup.
This period also saw Norway achieve its highest FIFA ranking, 2nd in the world.
Despite these years of decent success, Norway only reached the UEFA Euros in 2000 and failed to qualify for each major tournament. With Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, the squad seeks to turn their fortune. Speaking of which…
Best Norwegian Football Players Currently
Erling Haaland
Over the past few years, Man City’s Erling Haaland has become one of the most feared strikers in world football. Tall, pacey and deadly when finishing, Haaland has been a crucial asset for both his club, Manchester City, and the national team. The Premier League’s Golden Boot Winner in 2023 and 2024 is definitely the top dog in Norway’s offence. As of late May in 2024, he has tallied 31 appearances and accumulated 27 goals. Erling Haaland is definitely a key player in their quest for World Cup qualification.
Martin Ødegaard
As the captain of the national team and a standout player for Arsenal, once football’s hottest young wunderkind Martin Ødegaard has a creative flair and vision that have been a foundation for most of his club and national team’s offence.
Norway’s best version of KDB or Fede Valverde, Ødegaard can control the game from midfield. He can help avoid pressure, delivers precise passes and assists, and can score when needed. Maturity and experience, despite his young age make him an invaluable asset for Norway.
Alexander Sørloth
Complementing Haaland and Ødegaard is Alexander Sørloth, another star in Norway’s attack. Playing for Villarreal, Sørloth brings versatility and physicality to the front of the field. Thanks to a recent masterclass in goal-scoring when he bagged 4 goals against Real Madrid in La Liga’s Matchday 37, much more people noticed Sørloth’s talent.
He can complement Haaland and play as both a central striker and a winger provides. For the coach, it’s the potential for tactical flexibility, making Norway’s offense more dynamic and unpredictable.
Road to FIFA World Cup 2026 for Norway: UEFA Euro Qualifiers
With 16 spots reserved for European UEFA teams, Norway would be very proud to nick one of which for themselves. However, the groups are still not ready and will be determined only after next year’s UEFA Nations League concludes. Yet, for that tournament, Norway is only in League B, where there’s hope for promotion into League A, where teams qualify for the World Cup.
Yet their results in the Nation’s League will determine whether they will succeed in doing so.
As of UEFA Euro 2024, the Norway national football team just missed out, falling behind Scotland and Spain for the spots.
What About Norway’s Women’s National Team?
Norway women’s national football team has been almost the polar opposite of their male counterparts. The Norwegian Women’s squads have a rich history with big wins and solid results in major tournaments. Historically, Norway has been one of the leading teams in women’s football, especially in Europe. The women’s team won the FIFA World Cup in 1995, the UEFA Women’s Championship twice (1987 and 1993), and the Olympic gold medal in 2000. That was a dominant force from the late 80s all the way to the start of Y2K.
However, as of recent, there has been a slight fall off. In the most recent 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Norway had a mixed performance. Their journey ended in the Round of 16, where they were defeated 3-1 by the favourite of the match, Japan.
Despite recent woes, the women’s team remains a powerhouse in international football, a household name, so to speak.