Norway announced its squad for the World Championship » Odegaard and Haaland, not missing from the team + More notable absences
Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Thursday, 21 May 2026 22:19 / Updated on Thursday, 21 May 2026 22:19
Norway's World Cup squad was unveiled on Thursday night in a video where Stale Solbakken's selection was announced by Norway's King Harald V of Norway himself.
The selector Stale Solbakken admitted before the announcement that the choice was an extremely difficult one:
“It's difficult to find the balance. We know some will be disappointed, but that's part of the game. Others will be very happy. It's always like that. What's special is that there hasn't been a World Cup squad since 1998,” Solbakken told NRK.
The stars are confirmed for the World Championship: Haaland, Odegaard and Nusa
As expected, Norway relies on its Premier League stars Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.
Instead, several in-form players at the club were left out, including Kristian Arnstad, Zlatko Tripic and Aron Donnum.
Norway's full squad for the World Cup
Goalkeepers: Orjan Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (Hamburger SV)
Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Leo Skiri Ostigard (Genoa), David Moller Wolfe (Wolverhampton), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), Fredrik Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt), Henrik Falchener (Viking), Sondre Langas (Derby County)
midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Patrick Berg (Bodo/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica)
Strikers: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)
Historic comeback after 28 years
Norway ticks off its presence at the World Cup this summer, the first after 28 years, the last participation being in 1998, in France.
The qualifying campaign was a spectacular one, with emphatic results, including a landmark 4-1 win over Italy, which mathematically sealed their ticket to the final tournament.
Norway are making just their fourth World Cup appearance in history (after 1938, 1994 and 1998) and expectations are huge around this generation.
