Norway and Senegal meet in a Group I clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 23 June at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Norway sit top after a 4-1 win over Iraq on Matchday 1 with a plus three goal difference and three points already banked, whereas Senegal are third after a 1-3 defeat to France and need a positive result to stay in the hunt for a top two finish or a strong third place ranking. It is also the first competitive meeting between these two nations at a major tournament, which adds a layer of uncertainty to a game that Norway's Matchday 1 dominance otherwise makes fairly readable.
Ståle Solbakken has been in charge of Norway since December 2020 and brings personal World Cup experience having been part of the 1998 squad as a player, while Pape Thiaw took over Senegal in December 2024 and immediately delivered by guiding them to the 2025 AFCON title. The two have never faced each other, so there is no tactical history to work from at this level.
Haaland's brace in a 4-1 win over Iraq gave Norway exactly the platform they wanted heading into Matchday 2 and a 1-1 friendly draw with Morocco beforehand showed enough to suggest the pieces are in order. Senegal's AFCON triumph showed their quality across a full competition but France exposed their defensive vulnerabilities badly yet Senegal had moments through Mané in behind before the backline was repeatedly caught out.
Norway have no confirmed injuries or suspensions, though full backs Julian Ryerson and David Møller Wolfe are carrying minor knocks that are not expected to keep them out and Solbakken looks set to stick with the 4-3-3 that worked against Iraq. Thiaw has scope for minor adjustments, including potentially giving Iliman Ndiaye more prominence on the wing, with no confirmed absences to force his hand.
Norway press high in a 4-3-3 and transition quickly, with Haaland and Sørloth offering two targets in the box from dead balls and their delivery from set pieces a consistent weapon. Haaland tends to hold his position in a structured mid block before bursting forward, which makes him hard to prepare for. Senegal operate in a similarly shaped 4-3-3 but more vertically, looking to release Sarr and Mané in behind.
The big individual battle is between Haaland and Senegal's central defensive partnership of Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhaté. Koulibaly reads drops well and Niakhaté's recovery pace stops exactly the runs Haaland likes to make, so Norway will need to find other ways in if the direct route gets blocked. Ødegaard needs space to operate in midfield and Idrissa Gana Gueye and Lamine Camara are likely to sit tight and funnel him wide. Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sørloth will test the pace of Krépin Diatta and Malick Diouf at full back and Sarr's pace means Norway cannot push both full backs high simultaneously.
The two sides have met just once, a 2-1 friendly win for Senegal in Dakar in March 2006 and Norway's height and delivery make them a set piece threat at this level, with Senegal also dangerous from dead balls particularly through Koulibaly at the near post.
Norway 2-1 Senegal. Norway's structure and the Senegal backline's shakiness against France suggest the chances will be there and the question is whether Haaland converts them. Haaland and Ødegaard should create the openings but Senegal's pace in behind means Norway won't be able to shut it down completely.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
