A staggering 4-1 win in Italy put the icing on the cake of a first-class qualification campaign as Norway's men's national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 27 years.
Norway is heading back to the World Cup. For the first time since 1998, the men’s national team has secured its place at football’s biggest tournament, completing an extraordinary transformation under manager Ståle Solbakken.
Qualification was effectively sealed with a routine win over Estonia last week, but the 4–1 victory away to Italy was the moment it became mathematically certain.
Italy needed a nine-goal swing to catch Norway but instead the match became a statement of how far this Norwegian team has come.
After falling behind early, Norway surged through the second half with goals from Antonio Nusa, a sensational volley from Erling Haaland, a second moments later, and a stoppage-time fourth from Jørgen Strand Larsen. It was the kind of controlled, fearless football that has become the hallmark of this new era.
For Norwegian football fans, the result carries an emotional weight. The national team has gone through two decades of frustration, near-misses and talented players who could not quite pull the country over the line. This time has been different.
A New Norway
Solbakken has built a team that looks both meticulously organised and genuinely united. His insistence on structure, movement and bravery on the ball was criticised early on, but the long-term plan has suddenly crystallised into Europe’s most surprising powerhouse.
Although the headlines inevitably focus on Haaland’s astonishing numbers, Norway’s resurgence is not the story of one player. The Manchester City striker has scored 16 goals in eight qualifiers, an extraordinary return by any standard, but he is part of a wider system that now functions with purpose.
Martin Ødegaard has been the creative anchor in midfield, topping European qualifying charts for assists, while players such as Sander Berge, Kristoffer Ajer, Patrick Berg and Antonio Nusa have flourished in clearly defined roles.
The change has been as psychological as it has been tactical. Norway’s turning point came in last autumn’s Nations League campaign. A 5–1 defeat to Austria seemed to confirm the same old problems, yet the squad regrouped, topped the group and earned promotion to League A.
What felt like a minor trophy on paper proved to be the emotional reset the team desperately needed. Since then, the results have been astonishing: an eleven-match winning streak in competitive fixtures, including statement victories over Italy, Israel and Moldova.
At the heart of it all is Solbakken’s emphasis on distances, movement and collective responsibility. Norway’s defensive record has been quietly remarkable, conceding just five goals in eight qualifiers despite a backline assembled more through necessity than luxury.
The team is more compact, more comfortable with the ball and capable of controlling games in a way few previous Norway teams have managed.
Finishing on a High
The second half in Italy was perhaps the strongest example yet. Rather than retreat and defend a narrow lead, Norway kept the ball, dictated the tempo and forced Italy to chase.
For a team once known for panicking under pressure, it was a symbolic shift. This is a Norway side that can protect itself through possession, stay composed, and attack with confidence when the moment opens.
Haaland’s impact, of course, cannot be understated. His 55 goals in 48 international matches already place him in historic company, surpassing Norway’s all-time scoring record at an age when most players are only finding their feet.
Yet what may matter even more is his role within the team culture. Despite his superstardom, he has been described by those inside the squad as grounded, committed and fully invested in Solbakken’s collective approach.
For younger fans, this will be their first real experience of following Norway in a global tournament. For older ones, memories of Kjetil Rekdal, Tore André Flo and the famous win over Brazil suddenly feel a little closer again.
The reaction across Norway has been one of pride and, above all, relief. This generation always had the talent. Now it finally has the results to match. And with Norway heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer, the country can dare to imagine what might come next.
