Norway are finally back on the FIFA World Cup stage after a 28-year absence.
Under Stale Solbakken, Norway secured their place at FIFA World Cup 2026โข with a perfect qualifying campaign.
Led by Martin Odegaardโs creativity and Erling Haalandโs goalscoring power, many fans believe this new generation can produce Norwayโs best-ever World Cup run.
Stale Solbakken knows exactly what it means to represent Norway at the World Cup.
As a player, he earned 58 caps for the national team and featured at France 1998, Norwayโs most recent World Cup before 2026.
After a successful coaching career with clubs including Hamarkameratene, FC Copenhagen, Koln and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Solbakken became Norway head coach in December 2020.
Now, he has guided his country back to the global stage.
Norway produced one of the strongest qualification campaigns in Europe.
Solbakkenโs side won all eight matches in Group I, becoming one of only a few European teams to complete a perfect qualifying record.
They opened with a 5-0 victory over Moldova and later delivered one of the biggest wins of qualification by defeating Moldova 11-0.
Norway finished their campaign in style with a memorable 4-1 win at San Siro, confirming their long-awaited return to the World Cup.
Norwayโs best modern World Cup run came at France 1998.
They collected five points in a tough group featuring Morocco, Scotland and Brazil.
That campaign sent Norway into the Round of 16, where they faced Italy for the third time in World Cup history.
A strong defensive performance was eventually undone by Christian Vieri, as Italy ended Norwayโs run.
France 1998 remains Norwayโs most recent World Cup appearance before their return in 2026.
The squad included several experienced players based in England and Scandinavia, such as Henning Berg, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Kjetil Rekdal and Stale Solbakken.
Their victory over Brazil remains the defining moment of that campaign.
Norway made their World Cup debut at France 1938.
They faced Italy in the Round of 16 and pushed the eventual champions into extra time.
Arne Brustad scored Norwayโs equaliser, but Silvio Piola netted the winner for Italy in extra time.
Kjetil Rekdal is Norwayโs all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup with two goals.
He scored against Mexico at USA 1994 and later became a national hero by scoring the decisive penalty against Brazil at France 1998.
With Erling Haaland heading to his first World Cup, many fans believe that record could finally be broken.
Henning Berg, Stig Inge Bjornebye and Kjetil Rekdal share Norwayโs World Cup appearance record with seven matches each.
All three played in every Norway match at USA 1994 and France 1998.
Norwayโs greatest World Cup moment came against Brazil at France 1998.
With Norway needing a victory to reach the knockout stage, Brazil took the lead through Bebeto in the final minutes.
Tore Andre Flo quickly equalised before winning a late penalty.
Kjetil Rekdal stepped up in the 89th minute and scored the dramatic winner, sending Norway into the Round of 16.
Both of Norwayโs World Cup victories have come by a 1-0 scoreline.
Their first came against Mexico at USA 1994, with Kjetil Rekdal scoring the winner.
Their second came in the famous 1998 victory over Brazil, where Rekdal again delivered the decisive goal.
With Haaland, Odegaard and a confident new generation, Norway return to the FIFA World Cup with real excitement and belief.
After 28 years away, the 2026 tournament gives Norway the chance to create their greatest World Cup story yet.
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