Norway Advances to 2026 World Cup Quarterfinals

Norway reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stage. The team will face England on Saturday. Erling Haaland scored seven goals during the tournament.

Of the 26-man squad, 17 players compete in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga or Serie A. Only four players in the manager's squad play in Norway's domestic league, three of them at Bodo/Glimt, which reached the Champions League last 16 last season.

The Norwegian Football Federation established the National Team School in 2013 after failing to qualify for Euro 2012. The head of player development said the system connects grassroots clubs with top clubs and the federation. Of the 15 players who appeared in the 2-1 victory over Brazil, 14 had represented Norway at youth level and 11 entered the NTS pathway from under-15 or under-16.

Children remain with grassroots clubs until age 12.

2016 and 2025 Norway built 539 artificial pitches and renovated 586 others. Norsk Tipping generated more than 2 billion Norwegian kroner for sports facilities in 2026 after donating 64 percent of its proceeds to sporting purposes. The squad posed for a pre-tournament photograph wearing kits from their first clubs.

Haaland joined NTS national talent camps at age 14. Odegaard signed for Real Madrid at age 16 for 4 million euros.

“Playing England is like playing Norway's 'adopted team'.”