Norway vs Senegal Prediction: World Cup 2026 Preview & Best Bets | OneFootball

Norway vs Senegal | Group I, Matchday 2 | Monday, June 22, 2026 | 8:00 PM ET

Venue: MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford), USA

TV/Streaming: Fox Sports (USA)

Group I Standings: Norway lead Group I on 3 points after a 4-1 win over Iraq; Senegal sit third on 0 points after a 3-1 defeat to France.

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What’s At Stake

Norway can all but secure a place in the knockout rounds with a second successive win here, putting six points between themselves and the bottom two teams with one game remaining. Senegal, by contrast, are staring at elimination if results go against them: a second defeat leaves their Group I campaign in critical condition, with France waiting in the final matchday. For both sides this is a pivotal fixture, but the stakes cut far deeper for Senegal, whose 2002 quarter-final legacy will count for little if they cannot find a result at MetLife Stadium on Monday night.

Verdict

Norway to win is the headline call here: the Scandinavians are in excellent form, carry a prolific striker in Erling Haaland, and face a Senegal side that shipped three goals to France in their opener. At +135 for a Norway victory, the price reflects a tighter contest than the underlying evidence suggests, making it one of the more defensible positions on the board.

Norway vs Senegal Match Preview

Norway’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence has so far been everything their fans could have wished for. A 4-1 dismantling of Iraq in their opener was authoritative: four goals, controlled possession, and the kind of ruthlessness through their forward line that made their European qualifying campaign so devastating. Ståle Solbakken’s side won all eight qualifiers, scoring 37 goals in the process, and arrived in the United States as a team that knows exactly what it wants to be.

Senegal’s campaign has started on a far rockier note. The 3-1 defeat to France at this same MetLife Stadium was not a catastrophe in terms of the scoreline given the quality of the opposition, but the manner of it, with Senegal conceding three times while managing just one goal in stoppage time through Ibrahim Mbaye, raises questions about defensive solidity under pressure. Head coach J. Koto needs a response, and he needs it immediately.

The match-up, on paper, is a fascinating one. Norway carry the structural advantage of a three-goal swing in goal difference and a squad built for exactly this kind of high-stakes group fixture. Senegal have the individual quality to hurt any team in the tournament, particularly through Sadio Mane and the pace of their forward line. Where the game is won or lost will likely depend on whether Senegal can neutralize Haaland’s movement in the box and find enough creativity between the lines to test a Norwegian defense that looked solid against Iraq.

Team Form

Norway Recent Form

Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq was their most important result in a generation, confirming that their qualification form was no mirage. Across recent preparatory fixtures, Solbakken’s side showed they can grind when needed, taking a point from the Netherlands on the road before beating Sweden convincingly. The only concern is that their two losses and draws came against stronger opposition, suggesting the step up from qualifying opponents to World Cup contenders will be tested once more by Senegal’s experienced midfield.

Senegal Recent Form

Senegal’s pre-tournament form tells a mixed story. Wins over Gambia and Peru provided confidence, but back-to-back losses to the United States and France in competitive or near-competitive conditions revealed vulnerabilities at the back. A goalless friendly against Saudi Arabia in between suggests the attacking output is not always consistent. Senegal will need to be sharper against a Norway side that punished Iraq’s defensive errors with clinical efficiency.

Team News

Erling Haaland is fit and central to everything Norway do going forward. He scored twice in qualifying and grabbed two goals in the opening group game against Iraq, making him the obvious focal point of the Norwegian attack once more. The Manchester City striker’s movement off the ball and his penalty-box presence will be the key threat Senegal must account for across the 90 minutes. Martin Odegaard orchestrates from midfield, while Alexander Sorloth provides an experienced alternative option up front.

For Senegal, Sadio Mane remains the headline name and brings a wealth of experience from his many years with the national team. Idrissa Gueye anchors the midfield and brings composure to a side that will need to be disciplined in and out of possession. Nicolas Jackson, now at Bayern Munich, offers a dynamic center-forward option, while Ismaila Sarr provides width and the ability to create chances from deeper positions. Pape Matar Sarr and Lamine Camara give Senegal genuine quality in central areas.

There are no confirmed absences flagged for either side ahead of this fixture. Both squads are announced in full. The fitness of Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal’s veteran captain and defensive leader at 34, will be particularly important given the aerial threat Haaland poses. Senegal cannot afford any defensive uncertainty at set pieces against a Norway side that uses them effectively.

Norway vs Senegal Predicted Lineups

Norway (4-3-3): Nyland; M. H. Pedersen, Ajer, Ostegard, Bjorkan; Thorstvedt, S. Berge, Odegaard (c); Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth

Predicted XI – squads to be confirmed.

Senegal (4-3-3): E. Mendy; El H. M. Diouf, Koulibaly (c), Niakhate, Jakobs; Gueye, Pape M. Sarr, Camara; I. Sarr, Jackson, Mane

Predicted XI – squads to be confirmed.

Key Tactical Matchup

The central duel that shapes this game is Idrissa Gueye‘s ability to screen Senegal’s defense against the relentless movement of Haaland and the creative passing of Martin Odegaard. Norway’s opener against Iraq illustrated the pattern: Odegaard pulls the strings through the center, and when that link is disrupted, Haaland finds space to exploit. Gueye, at 36 and still a combative presence with 130 caps, must break up Norway’s transitions before they reach the final third. If Odegaard is afforded time on the ball in the half-spaces and can pick passes behind Senegal’s defensive line, Haaland’s movement makes him almost impossible to contain.

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Main Pick: Norway to Win (+135, BetOnline)

Norway are in commanding form after their opening victory over Iraq, Haaland is scoring, and Senegal arrive here having conceded three goals in their first match. The +135 available for a Norway victory reflects a respectably competitive matchup, but the evidence points clearly toward Solbakken’s side. Norway’s qualifying record of 37 goals in eight wins is not just a number; it speaks to a team that has learned to convert dominance into results, and that pattern has carried into the tournament itself.

Goals Market: Over 2.5 Goals (-101, BetOnline)

Norway scored four in their opener and Senegal conceded three. Both teams have shown they can produce goals at this tournament, and the attacking firepower on the Norwegian side alone makes low-scoring football unlikely. At -101 for over 2.5 goals, this is the market with the most evidence behind it heading into Monday night.

Scorer Market: Erling Haaland Anytime Scorer

Haaland scored twice against Iraq and entered this tournament as Norway’s top scorer across their qualifiers. His movement in the penalty area and his ability to convert from limited chances make him the standout anytime scorer candidate in this fixture. He is the most dangerous forward on the pitch and Norway’s entire attacking system is built around him.

Optional Pick: Norway to Win and Over 2.5 Goals

If Norway control possession and Senegal are forced to chase the game after conceding, the conditions for a multi-goal Norway victory are clearly in place. A combined Norway win and over 2.5 goals market captures both the likely outcome and the probable scoring volume in a single selection, and the opening-game data from Group I backs it up.

Norway vs Senegal Odds Across Operators

Here is how the main match odds compare across the three approved operators for this fixture:

The best available draw price is +258, and the best Senegal win price is +215, available across the broader market. For the totals market, Over 2.5 goals is available at -101 at both BetOnline and Lucky Rebel, with BetNow offering -105 for the same line.

How to Watch and How to Bet

How to Watch

In the United States, Norway vs Senegal on June 22 is broadcast live on Fox Sports, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM ET from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Viewers in Canada can follow the action on CTV, TSN, or RDS, while UK audiences can tune in on ITV or BBC. Fox’s streaming platform will carry the broadcast for authenticated subscribers in the US.

How to Bet

If you are looking to place a wager on this Group I clash, here is how to get started:

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