Norway

Norway's qualification for the 2026 World Cup ends a drought that stretched back to 1998, and they arrive armed with the most exciting duo in their footballing history. Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard represent a generational convergence of talent that has Norwegian fans dreaming of something special. For a nation that has produced individual stars but rarely assembled a complete team, this feels different. The Haaland-Ødegaard axis is the obvious headline. Haaland is perhaps the most prolific pure goal scorer in world football, a physical specimen whose combination of size, speed, and finishing precision makes him nearly impossible to contain in the box. Ødegaard, his former teammate at the youth level and now one of the Premier League's best playmakers, provides the creative supply line. Add Alexander Sørloth as a complementary striker and Norway have a genuinely dangerous attack. The question marks lie elsewhere -- the defense is solid but unspectacular, and the midfield beyond Ødegaard lacks the quality to dominate possession against top teams. For bracket purposes, Norway are a fascinating proposition. Their attack gives them a chance in any match -- Haaland alone can win a knockout game -- but their overall squad depth suggests a quarterfinal ceiling. A Round of 16 appearance should be the baseline expectation, with a quarterfinal run possible if the draw breaks favorably. They are a strong contender for second place in Group I behind France.