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Sports Desk • Football

Norway at the FIFA World Cup

Norway at the FIFA World Cup covers the Norway men's national football team's record in FIFA's premier international tournament.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Norway has appeared in the FIFA World Cup finals four times, with its best finish a quarter-final run in 2026. The team ended a 28-year absence by qualifying for the 2026 tournament.

What it is

The Norway men’s national football team represents the Norwegian Football Federation at the FIFA World Cup. Norway has reached the finals in 1938, 1994, 1998, and 2026. Its most recent appearance also produced its best result: reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

Why it matters

Norway’s 2026 World Cup run ended a 28-year drought and marked a significant achievement for the program. The qualification campaign was led by Erling Haaland, who scored 16 goals in UEFA qualifying, and was capped with a 4–1 win over Italy in Milan.

Key details

In 1998, Norway defeated Brazil 2–1 in the group stage before losing to Italy in the round of 16. The 1938 team also lost to Italy in a knockout tie. In 1994, Norway exited in the group stage despite earning four points. The 2026 quarter-final remains the team’s deepest run.

In short

  • Four World Cup appearances: 1938, 1994, 1998, 2026
  • Best finish: quarter-finals in 2026
  • Ended a 28-year absence from the tournament
  • Erling Haaland led UEFA qualifying with 16 goals
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may encounter Norway in FIFA tournament coverage, especially through World Cup comparisons, knockout-stage matchups, and international football reporting. The topic has no specific Canada connection beyond general global sports interest.

Quick questions

How many times has Norway qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals?
Norway has appeared in the finals four times: 1938, 1994, 1998, and 2026.
What is Norway's best World Cup result?
Norway's best result is reaching the quarter-finals in 2026.
How did Norway qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Norway secured qualification with a 4–1 win over Italy in Milan after a strong UEFA qualifying campaign.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway_at_the_FIFA_World_Cup
    Supports: World Cup appearances, 2026 return, best finish, historical results
  2. Australia Football — https://www.australiafootball.com/world-cup/teams/norway/
    Supports: Appearances, 2026 qualification, 1938/1994/1998 history, qualifying result
  3. FIFA House — https://www.fifa.house/en/articles/norway-team-profile-history
    Supports: 2026 return after 28 years, appearances, Erling Haaland qualification
  4. Sporting News — https://www.sportingnews.com/in/football/news/norway-world-cup-record-history-fifa-tournament-erling-haaland/523f78288a82275c64dd8f25
    Supports: Historical tournament record, 1998 and 1938 finishes, 2026 qualification context
  5. World Soccer Talk — https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/how-far-have-norway-advanced-in-the-world-cup-all-time-historical-records-and-best-finishes/
    Supports: 2026 quarter-final claim and best-ever finish
  6. The Athletic — https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7351497/2026/06/16/norway-world-cup-erling-haaland-martin-odegaard/
    Supports: 2026 qualifying campaign, perfect group record, Haaland scoring