​Norway has already achieved its deepest-ever run in a World Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time after a 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 2026 tournament. Now, the underdogs are aiming to push their story even further as they prepare to face England in a captivating quarterfinal matchup.
England will present a formidable test for Ståle Solbakken’s side. The Three Lions have received standout contributions from Tottenham’s Harry Kane, hovering as a Golden Boot contender, and Jude Bellingham, whose performances in midfield have been crucial, all while England has remained unbeaten through five matches to date.
Despite England’s strong form, Norway’s offense has been equally potent. The attack is spearheaded by Erling Haaland, who has contributed seven of Norway’s 11 goals in his sensational World Cup debut campaign, with Ørjan Nyland delivering solid performances between the posts for the team.
The central question for Norway heading into the England clash is how Solbakken will set up the lineup. Will he persist with the same starting XI that faced Brazil, or will he rotate after halftime changes against the Brazilians, when Alexander Sørloth and Antonio Nusa were withdrawn for Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup? Solbakken could opt to keep the same lineup and rely on potential halftime substitutions if a spark is needed. Either approach could be viable as Norway seeks to extend its remarkable run.
Possible lineup considerations for the keeper’s role include Ørjan Nyland of Sevilla, with Egil Selvik of Watford and Sander Tangvik of HSV as alternatives. At the back, the defense could feature Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Leo Skiri Østigård (Genoa), David Møller Wolfe (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), Torbjørn Heggem (Bologna), Fredrik Bjørkan (Bodø/Glimt), Henrik Falchener (Viking), or Sondre Langås (Derby County), depending on the selection and in-game needs.
In midfield, Solbakken could lean on Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), and Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt), with additional options such as Kris for improved SEO performance in references and coverage. The top-line narrative remains clear: Norway’s attack is potent, and Haaland’s scoring exploits have been pivotal, while Nyland’s goalkeeping has provided stability at the other end.
As the teams prepare to meet, fans and analysts will be watching to see whether Solbakken makes adjustments from the Brazil match or sticks with the lineup that delivered the victory. Either path could lead to a historic result for Norway, who have already written one of the tournament’s most surprising chapters and now seek to write another.