Norway has participated in the qualification for 17 FIFA World Cup tournaments and reached the finals four times, in 1938, 1994, 1998 and 2026. Their best performance came in 2026, when they reached the quarter-finals, surpassing their round-of-16 runs in 1938 and 1998. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, their only victory was against Brazil, eventual runners up at the tournament.

1938

Norway didn't make it to the second round of the 1938 FIFA World Cup. The team lost 1-2 to Italy.

1994

Norway didn't make it out of Group E at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

1998

Norway made it to the Round of 16 at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, but lost 0-1 to Italy.

2026

Norway qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and were drawn into Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Iraq. Inspired by Erling Haaland, they reached the quarter-finals, which is their best-ever World Cup run.

Norway finished second in Group I, beating Iraq 4–1 (Haaland scoring twice on his World Cup debut) and Senegal 3–2, before losing 4–1 to France in the final group game.

In the Round of 32, they beat Ivory Coast 2–1 for their first-ever World Cup knockout victory. Next, in the Round of 16, they won five-time champions, Brazil 2–1. Erling Haaland scored twice in this match.

However, the Vikings run ended in the quarter-finals, where England beat them 2–1 after extra time through a Jude Bellingham winner.

Date Round Result Opponent
16 June Group I 4–1 Iraq
22 June Group I 3–2 Senegal
26 June Group I 1–4 France
30 June Round of 32 2–1 Ivory Coast
5 July Round of 16 2–1 Brazil
11 July Quarter-final 1–2 (a.e.t.) England

Trivia

  • Erling Haaland lit up the 2026 World Cup on his tournament debut, scoring seven goals in Norway's four matches, including a brace against Brazil in the Round of 16. He was a top contender for the Golden Boot before Norway's quarter-final exit to England.