08 Jul, 2026
The Greatest Norway XI of All Time – Could They Win the World Cup?
As Haaland powers the real squad into the 2026 Quarter-Finals, we build Norway’s all-time greatest XI. Could this dream team win it all?
Norway have never won a major trophy, and their finest World Cup hour was reaching the last 16 in 1998, a run that included a famous win over Brazil. For most of their history they have been earnest, organised and hard to beat rather than star-studded. But the current golden generation, led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, is the best crop the country has ever produced, and an all-time Norway XI is stronger than you might expect. Picked in a 4-4-2, here is the team, followed by an honest look at their chances.
The starting XI
| Pos | Player | Peak clubs / era | Why he makes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Erik Thorstvedt | Tottenham | Norway's iconic goalkeeper of the 1990s and a firm favourite during his years at Spurs. |
| RB | Henning Berg | Blackburn, Man Utd | A league title winner in England with two clubs and a reliable, intelligent defender. |
| CB | Rune Bratseth | Werder Bremen | An elegant sweeper widely regarded as the finest defender Norway has produced. |
| CB | Brede Hangeland | Fulham | A towering presence at the back for Fulham for 8 years. With over 90 caps for Norway. A true rock at the back. |
| LB | John Arne Riise | Liverpool | A Champions League winner with one of the most powerful left foots in the game. |
| RM | Morten Gamst Pedersen | Blackburn | THE original streets wont forget Premier League baller. Technically outstanding. |
| CM | Kjetil Rekdal | Rennes, Hertha Berlin | A commanding midfield leader who scored the winning penalty against Brazil in 1998. |
| CM | Martin Odegaard (c) | Real Madrid, Arsenal | The current Arsenal and Norway captain, a gifted playmaker and the team's creative heart. |
| LM | Erik Mykland | Austria Wien | Nicknamed the Mosquito, a slight, silky playmaker and one of Norway's great technicians. |
| ST | Erling Haaland | Dortmund, Man City | A generational goalscorer and, on current form, one of the very best players in the world. |
| ST | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | Manchester United | The ultimate super-sub, a lethal finisher and a Champions League match-winner in 1999. |
The Lineup
Haaland leads the line with Solskjaer, a ruthless finisher, for company. Odegaard is given licence to create as the advanced central midfielder, with Rekdal providing the steel and leadership beside him, and Pedersen and Mykland offering energy and craft either side. The back four is experienced and well organised, Bratseth and Hangeland a composed central pairing, with Thorstvedt a safe pair of hands behind them. Between Riise, Pedersen and Odegaard, set-pieces and specifically free kicks would be a nightmare to handle.
The Substitutes
- Ørjan Nyland
- Rune Jarstein
- Julian Ryerson
- Stig Inge Bjørnebye
- Gunnar Halle
- Kristoffer Ajer
- Ronny Johnsen
- Sander Berge
- Øyvind Leonhardsen
- Alf-Inge Haaland
- Per-Ciljan Skjelbred
- Antonio Nusa
- Joshua King
- Alexander Sorloth
- John Carew
- Steffen Iversen
- Tore Andre Flo
Could they win the World Cup?
The case for yes. The spine is a lot better than outsiders expect. In Haaland, Norway have one of the deadliest strikers on the planet, and in Odegaard a genuinely top-class playmaker to feed him. Riise and Berg are about as good as full backs get, Solskjaer is a proven finisher alongside Haaland, and the 1990s players were all seasoned at a good European level. Add Norway’s traditional organisation and physicality and this is a team that could frustrate a bigger name and then punish them.
The case for no. Beyond Haaland and Odegaard, the drop-off is steep. The midfield lacks a second creator or a world-class ball-winner, there is a shortage of top-class wingers, and general depth is modest against the elite. Most of all, the side leans heavily on Haaland for its goals: stop him, and it is not obvious where the next one comes from.
The verdict. This is comfortably one of the stronger teams in the field and would be immediate contenders. With Haaland and Odegaard it has the two match-winners you need to spring a knockout upset on anyone. The fact their current team have already reached the quarter finals, bodes very well for a team with even more quality and depth. In the current World Cup, I see no reason why this team couldn’t reach a final, especially with some of the names on the bench.
This is a selection piece, so it is one defensible XI rather than the only one. Reasonable cases exist for others all over the pitch. The fun is in the argument.
check out our World Cup section for more All-Time XIs
