Ståle Solbakken was a nobody on the bench during the 1998 World Cup, an unused substitute yelling instructions at Egil Olsen while Norway pulled off one of the craziest comebacks in tournament history: down 1-0 to Brazil, they won 2-1. That moment shaped everything. Solbakken learned from Olsen that results come first, romance second. It’s the Nordic way. Tight defense, aggressive transitions, and a relentless focus on what actually works.
Now Norway is back in the World Cup for the first time since that same 1998 tournament. They’re grouped with Iraq, Senegal, and France. Nobody is expecting them to win the thing. But they’re not just happy to be here either.
How Norway Actually Plays Now
The base formation is 4-3-3, but Solbakken treats formations like suggestions. Antonio Nusa stays wide on the left, a classic dribbling winger who wants one-on-one matchups. Julian Ryerson, the fullback, pushes so high on the right that Norway often looks like a 3-5-2 in attack. That lets Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth stay close to goal, which is where you want your two biggest threats. Solbakken has also tried a flat 4-4-2 with mixed results. The point is flexibility. He wants to get his best players in space.
Haaland’s raw power is the obvious X-factor. But Martin Ødegaard’s passing vision is just as dangerous. If there’s open space behind the opponent’s back line and Solbakken catches his team not playing the ball there when Haaland makes a run, he gets furious. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s practically a rule.
A Defense That Finally Has a Pulse
The biggest change over the last year has been at the back. During Euro 2024 qualifying, Norway struggled to find ball-playing defenders. That’s not a problem anymore. Torbjørn Heggem and Kristoffer Ajer have given the team a much steadier foundation. They can actually pass out of pressure now. That alone makes Norway harder to press than they were before.
Solbakken will adjust how Norway plays depending on the opponent. Against Iraq, expect them to control the game. Against Senegal, they’ll mix it up, trying to be smart and unpredictable. Against France, they’re almost certainly sitting deeper, relying on counters and set pieces. That’s the pragmatic approach. You don’t go punch-for-punch with a team like France if you don’t have to.
Norway’s fans are showing out. The Norwegian Football Association estimates 7,000 to 10,000 supporters will travel to North America for the group stage. They will be loud. The “Row! Row! Row!” chant will echo through stadiums, a reference to Vikings rowing across the Atlantic. Hundreds of Viking helmets in the stands. Don’t be shocked if you see them on the streets either.
This is a team that hasn’t been on this stage in 28 years. They’re not just here to make up the numbers. That doesn’t mean they’ll win, but they’ve got the talent and the manager to make things messy for someone.
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