Norway secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Senegal in Group I. Inspired by another clinical display from Erling Haaland, the Scandinavian side made it two wins from two matches and booked its place in the knockout stage with a game to spare.
Pedersen gives Norway the breakthrough
Senegal started brightly and created several promising moments in the opening stages, but Norway struck first just before halftime. Marcus Pedersen capitalised on a defensive error inside the Senegal penalty area and calmly slotted home to hand his side a valuable lead heading into the break.
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The goal shifted the momentum in Norway’s favour and put Senegal on the back foot after a competitive first half.
Haaland takes control after the break
Norway came out firing in the second half and doubled its advantage through Haaland. Martin Odegaard delivered a perfectly timed through ball that split the Senegal defence, allowing the striker to race through and finish with confidence.
Erling Haaland was asked about Norway’s Group I decider against Kylian Mbappe’s France.
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) June 23, 2026
“I don't care much. They'll probably beat us and win the title.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/tYuEEdPZhl
Haaland added his second goal of the night just 10 minutes later. The forward unleashed a powerful effort that struck the crossbar before bouncing over the line, extending Norway’s lead to 3-0 and putting qualification within touching distance.
Senegal's late fightback falls short
Despite trailing by three goals, Senegal continued to push forward. Ismaila Sarr pulled one back before the hour mark to give his side hope and then scored again deep into stoppage time to set up a tense finish. However, Norway remained composed during the closing moments and held on to secure all three points.
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The victory takes Norway to six points from its opening two Group I matches, guaranteeing a place in the Round of 32. The team will now face France in its final group-stage fixture, with first place in the group still on the line.
For Norway, qualification marks a memorable achievement in its first World Cup appearance since 1998. With Haaland in top form and Odegaard pulling the strings in midfield, the side has emerged as one of the tournament’s early success stories.
Senegal, meanwhile, must now defeat Iraq in its final group match to keep its hopes of progressing alive.
