FIFA WC 2026: Haaland fit and primed for Norway's return after 28 years
Synopsis
Norway are back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years — and they arrive with the planet’s most prolific international scorer in peak condition. Haaland’s 55 goals in 50 caps, including 17 in nine games in 2025, make him the tournament’s most dangerous individual. Coach Solbakken’s message is simple: give him the ball, and he scores.
Key Takeaways
Norway face Iraq in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener in Boston on Wednesday, 18 June 2026 — their first World Cup in 28 years .
Erling Haaland has scored 55 goals in 50 appearances for Norway, the country’s all-time record.
Haaland reached 50 international goals in just 46 caps — only the sixth player ever and first in 53 years to do so in fewer than 50 games.
He finished 2025 as international football’s top scorer with 17 goals in nine matches , six clear of the next best.
Coach Stale Solbakken called Haaland ‘the world’s best goalscorer’ and confirmed he is ‘physically fit’ ahead of the tournament.
Norway’s Group I also includes two-time champions France and Senegal .
Erling Haaland arrives at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in peak physical condition and ready to deliver, according to Norway head coach Stale Solbakken, who called the striker the ‘world’s best goalscorer’ ahead of the team’s opening Group I fixture against Iraq in Boston on Wednesday, 18 June 2026. Norway’s appearance marks their first World Cup in 28 years, ending an absence that stretches back to France 1998.
Haaland’s Record-Breaking Numbers
Haaland has scored 55 goals in 50 international appearances for Norway, making him the country’s all-time leading goalscorer. He reached the 50-goal milestone in just 46 caps — becoming only the sixth footballer in history and the first in 53 years to achieve that in fewer than 50 international matches. In 2025 alone, he finished as international football’s leading marksman with 17 goals in nine games, finishing six clear of his nearest rivals.
What Solbakken Said
Solbakken was unambiguous about Haaland’s status heading into the tournament. “Hopefully Erling will have a very big impact. I think he’s the world’s best goalscorer. He is physically fit, he was given a little break at the end of the season – (missing) one game for Manchester City and one for us. Hopefully we can give him good service because, if we give him chances, he has a tendency to score,” Solbakken told reporters.
The coach also underscored the importance of captain and Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard. “When he is on the pitch he is a very, very important player for us, and he’s our captain. He dictates, in many areas, the tempo of our play,” Solbakken said.
The Weight of 28 Years
Norway’s last World Cup appearance came in 1998, when Solbakken himself was a member of that squad. The emotional significance of returning to the global stage is not lost on the coach. “I think that’s for every citizen — to lead this country in a game like that. And especially after 28 years, then obviously that is perhaps the top thing on the list. Hopefully it will be a nice experience,” he said.
Norway’s Group I Challenge
Norway face a formidable Group I that includes two-time champions France and Senegal alongside Iraq. The opening match against Iraq in Boston is seen as Norway’s best opportunity to secure an early foothold. Solbakken acknowledged that managing the occasion will matter as much as tactics. “The match can have better and less good periods, and we have to find back the good feeling if we lose that feeling in the course of the match,” he said, adding that motivation would not be the concern — composure would.
With Haaland fit, Odegaard pulling the strings, and a nation watching after nearly three decades away, Norway’s World Cup return is one of the tournament’s more compelling storylines heading into the group stage.
Point of View
But the football reality is stark: they are in a group with France and Senegal, and their path depends almost entirely on Haaland converting whatever limited service he receives. Solbakken’s candour — ‘if we give him chances, he has a tendency to score’ — is also an admission that Norway’s ceiling is defined by one man. Odegaard’s ability to bridge the midfield-to-Haaland gap will be the real tactical test. A team this reliant on a single striker against elite defences is one injury or red card away from a very short tournament.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Norway play their first match at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Norway open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Iraq in Boston on Wednesday, 18 June 2026 . It is Norway’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, since France 1998 .
How many goals has Erling Haaland scored for Norway?
Erling Haaland has scored 55 goals in 50 international appearances for Norway, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer. He reached the 50-goal mark in just 46 caps — only the sixth player in history and the first in 53 years to do so in fewer than 50 games.
What group are Norway in at the 2026 World Cup?
Norway are in Group I alongside France (two-time World Cup champions), Senegal , and Iraq . Their opening match is against Iraq in Boston.
What did Norway coach Stale Solbakken say about Haaland?
Solbakken called Haaland ‘the world’s best goalscorer’ and confirmed he is ‘physically fit’ heading into the tournament. The coach said: ‘If we give him chances, he has a tendency to score.’
Who is Martin Odegaard and why does he matter for Norway?
Martin Odegaard is Norway’s captain and an Arsenal playmaker. Coach Solbakken described him as ‘a very, very important player’ who ‘dictates, in many areas, the tempo of our play’ when on the pitch.
