EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Every World Cup has its favorites before the tournament, and also some teams that people like to consider sleepers. Those teams that could emerge to shake up the power structure and go from overlooked to undeniable.
The 2026 World Cup had its share of sleepers, but several have fallen flat. Ecuador was a popular pick, but two losses and zero goals has taken their stock into free fall. Turkiye was another team being fancied by some as a potential darkhorse capable of making noise. Instead of shaking things up, the Turkish squad became one of the first teams eliminated.
If there has been one pre-tournament sleeper to live up to the hype, it has been Norway. The Erling Haaland-led side dismantled a tough Senegal on Monday night, cruising to a 3-2 victory courtesy of a pair of goals from the Manchester City star.
Norway’s opening 4-1 win against Iraq was dominant, but Iraq wasn’t exactly the opponent to legitimize the Norwegian team’s status as World Cup threat. Senegal, with its claim as African champions, and led by the indomitable Sadio Mane, was the higher caliber of opponent to let us know if this Norway squad was worthy of the pre-tournament hype.
Monday’s victory, and the way Norway earned it, had all the hallmarks of a team capable of a deep run.
You need depth, and the 13th-minute injury to Julian Ryerson forced Norway to turn to its bench, and Marcus Pederson rose to the challenge. He came off the bench and delivered the opening goal just before halftime. Patrick Berg also provided magic off the bench, with the Bodo/Glimt midfielder setting up Norway’s final goal, which wound up standing as the game-winner.
You need stars to deliver, and Norway’s biggest name did just that, with Haaland shaking off a miss on a wide-open net to score a pair of goals, giving him four for the tournament so far, which only Lionel Messi has topped. Norway’s other big star did his part, with Martin Odegaard delivering the pass of the night to set up Haaland’s first goal.
You also need to be able to hold firm when threatened, and Senegal tested Norway multiple times, including when Ismaila Sarr’s first goal made it 2-1 just five minutes after Haaland’s doubled Norway’s lead. Norway could have bowed to the pressure, but instead, they gave a response of their own just five minutes later, with Haaland’s game-winning finish.
Perhaps what has been the most impressive thing about Norway is how composed a team they have been so far despite this being the first World Cup for their entire squad. Many of their best players weren’t even alive the last time Norway was at the World Cup — their head coach Stale Solbakken was — but you wouldn’t know it watching them perform so far.
To be clear, Norway isn’t quite the finished product. Their defense has allowed three goals, and still has to face its stiffest test of the group stage, against France on Friday. The French came into the tournament as one of the favorites, and have looked every bit like a championship contender in their wins against Senegal and Iraq, but they too will be facing their biggest challenge to date when the sides meet at Gillette Stadium.
Monday’s win over Senegal was impressive, but beating France would not only make Norway group winners, it would take the Scandinavians from sleeper to serious World Cup contender.