Odegaard To Lead Norway At World Cup
By Ranti Thomas
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has been named captain of Norway’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the Scandinavian nation prepares for its first appearance at the tournament in nearly three decades.
The midfielder, who recently guided Arsenal F.C. to the Premier League title, will lead a Norway team filled with star players including Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Norway’s final 26-man squad was officially unveiled through a pre-recorded video message from King Harald V, a move that quickly attracted attention among football fans across Europe.
One of the biggest surprises in the squad was the inclusion of goalkeeper Sander Tangvik, who received his first senior national team call-up ahead of the tournament.
Tangvik earned the opportunity after an injury ruled out Mathias Dyngeland, while former Russia Under-21 goalkeeper Nikita Haikin reportedly failed to complete his nationality switch before the deadline.
Defender Sondre Langås admitted players were unsure about the final selection until the announcement video ended, saying the unusual process kept everyone nervous.
Norway will begin their World Cup campaign against Iraq in Boston on June 16 before facing Senegal and France in what many observers have described as one of the toughest groups in the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. It will also be the first edition to feature 48 countries.
Goalkeepers named in the Norway squad include Orjan Nyland, Egil Selvik and Sander Tangvik.
Defenders selected for the tournament are Julian Ryerson, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, David Moller Wolfe, Fredrik Bjorkan, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, Leo Skiri Ostigard, Sondre Langås and Henrik Falchener.
The midfield unit includes captain Ødegaard alongside Patrick Berg, Morten Thorsby, Sander Berge, Thelo Aasgaard and Jens Petter Hauge.
Norway’s attack will be led by Haaland, who finished the World Cup qualifying campaign in outstanding form and played a major role in helping the country qualify for the tournament.
Football fans in Norway are hopeful the combination of Ødegaard’s creativity and Haaland’s goalscoring ability can help the team make a strong impact on their long-awaited return to the World Cup stage.