Norway's national football team achieved its best-ever performance at the 2026 World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals before being defeated by England. The team's success was largely driven by striker Erling Haaland, who scored seven goals in five appearances, cementing his status as a global football star.
Haaland, already a prolific scorer for Manchester City with over 160 goals in four seasons, carried Norway through the tournament. The team secured second place in Group I with wins against Iraq and Senegal before defeating Ivory Coast and five-time champions Brazil in the knockout stages. The quarterfinal match against England ended in a 2-1 loss.
Martin Ødegaard, captain for Arsenal, served as Norway's primary creative force, contributing three assists during the tournament. His performance followed a successful club season where he helped Arsenal win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final. Antonio Nusa also impressed on the left flank, scoring a goal against Ivory Coast and nearly providing a spark as a substitute in the quarterfinal. Another emerging talent, who took Nusa's starting spot and scored against England, is expected to make a move to the Premier League from Portuguese club Benfica.
Meanwhile, Germany's 2026 World Cup campaign ended in the round of 32, extending a streak of not reaching the semifinals to three tournaments. Despite a strong start with a 7-1 victory over Curaçao, losses to Ecuador and Paraguay sent the four-time champions home early.
Kai Havertz finished the tournament with three goals for Germany, including the equalizer against Paraguay, though his penalty attempt was saved. Havertz remains a key player for Arsenal, who are aiming to defend their league title. Liverpool's attacking midfielder, who experienced a challenging first season with the club, contributed three assists but did not score. He will look to rebound under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Forward Niclas Füllkrug was Germany's standout player despite often coming off the bench, registering three goals and two assists. He returns to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, where he has been a consistent scorer.
Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made history as the oldest German player to feature in a major tournament at 40 years and 79 days old. Neuer, the only player on the squad from Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team, announced his retirement from international duty for the second time. He continues his playing career with Bayern Munich, where he holds numerous club records.