Norway booked their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years after edging Senegal 3-2 in a thrilling Group I clash in New Jersey.
At the final whistle, the Norwegian players collapsed to the rain-soaked turf in celebration before joining their supporters in jubilant scenes. Captain Martin Ødegaard beat a drum as the squad performed their now-familiar Viking-style chant with fans, marking a historic moment for the Scandinavian nation.
The victory secured Norway’s first appearance in the knockout rounds since the 1998 World Cup in France and underlined their status as one of the tournament’s most exciting teams.
After a sluggish start, Norway took control of the contest with three goals in a blistering spell spanning either side of halftime. Erling Haaland once again stole the spotlight, scoring twice to take his tally to four goals at the tournament.
The Manchester City striker now boasts an astonishing 57 goals in 51 appearances for Norway and has scored 16 times in his last eight international matches.
While Haaland was decisive, Norway’s victory was also aided by a difficult evening for Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who endured a nightmare outing and was involved in the build-up to all three Norwegian goals.
Senegal managed to score twice but were unable to recover after Norway’s attacking burst. The defeat leaves the African side without a point after two matches, having conceded six goals.
Norway now sit level with France on six points at the top of Group I, while Senegal and Iraq remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
The match was played in difficult weather conditions, with heavy rain and chilly temperatures creating a challenging atmosphere at the New York New Jersey Stadium, which is scheduled to host the World Cup final next month. Despite the conditions, Norway rose to the occasion and celebrated a landmark victory that keeps their dream of a deep World Cup run alive.
