Norway will begin World Cup campaign against Iraq in Boston on Tuesday
Senegal and France also in highly-competitive Group I
Coach Stale Solbakken and midfield pair Patrick Berg and Sander Berge speak ahead of opener
Back at the 1998 FIFA World Cup™, Stale Solbakken was part of a Norway team who pushed Italy all the way in a last-16 tie in Marseille.
His side were edged 1-0 on that occasion and the game would prove to be the nation’s last at the global finals for a generation. After almost three decades of hurt, Solbakken now stands on the brink of leading Norway on their World Cup return, having masterminded a flawless qualification campaign which saw his team win all eight of their group matches.
With global stars such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in their ranks, many observers have tipped Norway to have a deep run in North America.
Their first task, however, will be navigating their opening game against Iraq, who are back at the finals after an even longer absence of 40 years. Speaking on the eve of the game, coach Solbakken cut a relaxed and confident figure, but one acutely aware of the significance of Tuesday’s contest.
“For any coach to lead his country at the World Cup, it is perhaps the top thing,” he said. “It’s the number one on the list. Hopefully we can live up to it, because if it’s a bad experience, then you don’t feel like that. We can’t hide it’s a very important game. We are in a very competitive group, maybe the hardest one. If we can start with three points, then you’re on your way.”
Norway’s bid to do just that will be aided by having one of the world’s deadliest strikers in in their ranks. When it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, Solbakken believes powerhouse No9 Haaland is without equal.
“Hopefully Erling will have a very big impact. I think he’s the world’s best goalscorer. He is physically fit, he was given a little break at the end of the season – [missing] one game for Manchester City and one for us. Hopefully we can give him good service because, if we give him chances, he has a tendency to score.”
Norway midfielder Patrick Berg, meanwhile, is heading into the World Cup on the back of what he described as “without doubt the best year of my career”.
As well as helping Norway to World Cup qualification, he was part of the Bodo/Glimt side which embarked on a superb run to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. He is convinced the good times can keep rolling at World Cup 2026 – and revealed his belief the current Norway generation is the best in the country’s history.
“Of course, in the ‘90s, the team did really well,” said the 28-year-old. “But if you look at the players we have now, I think we have the biggest stars we have ever had with Haaland and Odegaard and a lot of the others. They have big roles in some of the biggest teams in the world.”
Berg’s fellow midfielder, Sander Berge, was a little more circumspect when asked to compare this Norway side to the ones that came before, but again highlighted the star power in the squad.
“Obviously, I haven’t seen the ‘70s, ‘80s or 90s generation, but football keeps progressing, and the level of the sport just keeps improving. The players we have in this team are truly special. When you have players like Erling and Martin on your team-sheet, you will always get a lot of recognition and interest.”
Berge comes from strong sporting stock, with his mother and father having both played international basketball. On how it will feel to represent his country at the greatest show on earth, Berge said: “It’s special. My family is big into sports. My mum played for the Swedish national team in basketball, my dad for the Norway national team, and my brother has even played college basketball over here [in the USA]. To qualify for the World Cup and now have them over here supporting me is a proud moment.”
Sources: FIFA Official
