Norway vs Senegal XIs: Confirmed team news, predicted lineups and injury latest for World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

Erling Haaland and co will face the real AFCON winners

Norway take on Senegal in what could prove to be a straight shootout for qualification for the knockout stages of the World Cup.

The Norwegians got off to a flying start as they thrashed Iraq 4-1 in their opener, with Erling Haaland announcing himself on the global stage with two goals in Foxborough, Massachussetts.

France are fully expected to beat Iraq in their Phialdelphia encounter, and as such, it is thought that Norway and Senegal will thus do battle for second place in Group I.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken will be hanging most of his hopes on Haaland, who will be fed by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard in Solbakken’s lop-sided 4-4-2.

Orchestrator: Martin Odegaard

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Elsewhere for the Scandinavians, they will have former Aston Villa shot-stopper Orjan Nyland in goal, with Julian Ryerson and David Moller Wolfe at full-back.

Leo Ostigard scored off the bench in the opener, but it is likely that he will be overlooked once more for Kristoffer Ajer and Torbjorm Heggem in the heart of defence.

Odegaard is given a free role from the right side of the midfield quartet, driting and sitting in centre-field, while Antonio Nusa gets high and wide off the left.

In the middle, workhorses Sander Berge and Fredrik Aursnes will be asked to cover a lot of ground.

Up top, Haaland will be partnered by Alexander Sorloth.

For the Senegalese, former Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy will be between the sticks, with Krepin Diatta and El Hadji Malick Diouf as the full-backs.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhate are in the middle, with the two Gueyes in the engine room - Pape and Idrissa Gana - although don’t be surprised to see Habib Diarra of Sunderland come in for Lamine Camara as the No10 in Pape Thiaw’s 4-2-3-1.

Out wide, Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mane are practically nailed on, with Nicolas Jackson - whose Chelsea future remains uncertain - leading the line.

Predicted Norway XI (4-4-2): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes, Nusa; Haaland, Sorloth

Predicted Senegal XI (4-2-3-1): Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Gueye, Gueye; Sarr, Diarra, Mane; Jackson

Date and time: 1am BST on Tuesday, June 23, 2026