Where Erling Haaland and the Norway World Cup roster plays club soccer in 2026

Every World Cup, there is always one surprise package that makes a deep run and, this summer, that team is Norway. This is the Lions' first World Cup appearance since '98, and the first time they've qualified for any major tournament since Euro 2000, before many members of their squad were even born. They had only ever won three matches at tournaments in their history, beating Mexico in '94, Brazil in '98 and Spain at the first European Championships of the new millennium.

Well, they have surpassed that tally this summer alone, with Ståle Solbakken's side racking up four victories, including dumping out Côte d'Ivoire and Brazil during the knockout phase. So now, Norway will fancy their chances of beating England in the quarterfinals at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.

Despite their lack of pedigree, both historic and more recent, it should not be too much of a surprise that Norway have made a deep run in North America, once you realize the quality in their squad.

Club teams for every player on the Norway World Cup roster

Almost every member of this squad is plying their trade at a high level across Europe, either in a big five league or for a club in a smaller league, but who are regulars in UEFA competition. Falling in the latter category is Patrick Berg, who has been excellent since coming into midfield. He was a key figure in the Bodø/Glimt side that reached the Champions League round of 16 last season. Well, his club side will be desperate to have him back, considering they commence their next Champions League campaign with a qualifier on August 4/5.

Meantime, Norway have been so unconvinced by their goalkeepers that they attempted to naturalise Nikita Haikin. The Russian, who has been at Bodø/Glimt since 2019, was denied Norwegian eligibility as recently as May, making his unavailable for selection. Thus, they've stuck with Ørjan Nyland, who is currently without a club, having been something of a journeyman. He has appeared for Aston Villa, Norwich, Reading, RB Leipzig and most recently Sevilla, before being released. Now 35, he has never convinced, until this tournament, particularly impressive during the win over Brazil.

Solbakken also has Premier League winning captain Martin Ødegaard, highly-rated winger Antonio Nusa and Borussia Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson, among other top talents, but you are slightly kidding yourself if you don't acknowledge that this team is pretty much all about one man.

Top transfer market value on the Norway World Cup roster

Note: All transfer market estimations courtesy of Transfermarkt.

Few individuals are as important to their national team as Erling Braut Håland is to Norway. His double to dump out Brazil took his tally to seven goals across his first four World Cup appearances, continuing his freakishly good scoring record for his country. Having also netted 16 times in eight qualifiers, Håland's tally stands at 62 goals in just 54 international caps. For context, Jørgen Juve's tally of 33 goals had stood as the national record since 1934, but has now been obliterated.

Of any nationality, only 37 men have scored more goals than Håland at international level. He is two behind Kylian Mbappé, now level with Zlatan Ibrahimović and O Fenômeno Ronaldo. Didier Drogba, Robbie Keane, Gerd Müller and Luis Suárez are among those in his sights.

Thus, it is no surprise that, by some distance, Håland is rated as Norway's most valuable player. Nevertheless, it is the supporting cast that has provided him with the platform on which to shine this summer, so can this team overcome England in South Florida on Saturday?

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