Story perspectives

Norway Qualifies for 2026 World Cup, Faces Iraq

5/22/2026

Summary

Norway Qualifies for World Cup

Norway qualified for the 2026 World Cup after winning all eight qualifiers and will open against Iraq on June 16.
Manager Stale Solbakken said the squad is strong and has delivered results.
King Harald recalled Norway’s historic travel across ferries and mountain passes while awaiting a World Cup return.
Goalkeeper Sander Tangvik is the only uncapped keeper after FIFA rejected Nikita Haikin’s switch from Russian to Norwegian nationality.

Summary

Harald Announces Squad

King Harald announced Norway’s World Cup roster in a social-media video, inaugural delivery.
Goalkeeper Mathias Dyngeland’s injury and FIFA’s denial of goalkeeper Nikita Haikin’s nationality change left 23-year-old Sander Tangvik as the only uncapped goalkeeper.
Midfielder Sondre Langas said he did not trust King Harald until the video ended, with team omitting winger Aron Donnum and midfielder Felix Horn Myhre.
Analysts call Norway’s Group I—France, Senegal, Iraq—the tournament’s “group of death”.

History

Historical Context

Norway earned a 1936 Olympic bronze and a 1938 World Cup spot, then struggled until Egil “Drillo” Olsen led them to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, producing Ole Gunnar Solskjær and John Arne Riise. Supported by the Norwegian Football Federation and King Harald V, Norway’s youth program ended a 28-year gap by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, now facing Italy, Israel, Estonia and Moldova.

1 of 3

Norway Qualifies for World Cup

Norway qualified for the 2026 World Cup after winning all eight qualifiers and will open against Iraq on June 16.
Manager Stale Solbakken said the squad is strong and has delivered results.
King Harald recalled Norway’s historic travel across ferries and mountain passes while awaiting a World Cup return.
Goalkeeper Sander Tangvik is the only uncapped keeper after FIFA rejected Nikita Haikin’s switch from Russian to Norwegian nationality.

1 / 3