Norway v Senegal LIVE: Team news as Erling Haaland aims to keep pace in World Cup golden boot race | OneFootball

Norway face Senegal in the second round of games in World Cup 2026 Group I this evening, with Erling Haaland hoping to lead his nation to a potentially pivotal victory in New Jersey.

Stale Solbakken’s side were convincing winners as they beat Iraq 4-1 in Boston in their opening game, and they will look to keep the pace with France tonight as Les Bleus face Iraq in Philadelphia.

And while they will hope to contend for first place in the group when they face France later this week, the Norwegians will know that a win this evening all but guarantees a spot in the last 32.

However, they’ll have to get past a tricky Senegal side first of all, with the Lions of Teranga hoping to get their own campaign on track after losing 3-1 to France in their opener.

France v Iraq delayed due to lightning

Tonight’s other Group I clash has been derailed by bad weather.

France’s group-stage clash with Iraq was delayed mid-match due to lightning in the area as Fifa’s World Cup 2026 weather protocol was actioned.

After heavy rain brought about the wettest half of football seen at this World Cup so far, the storm in the Philadelphia area escalated at half-time to lightning, meaning players and fans were forced inside.

Fifa is adhering to rules set by local authorities during the tournament, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) saying that if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium the game has to be stopped.

This sparks a countdown of 15 minutes, which resets every time another lightning strike happens. Once that 15-minute timer has elapsed, the players return to the pitch for a 15-minute warm-up.

The restart at Lincoln Financial Field is already believed to have been pushed back beyond the minimum wait of 30 minutes due to more lightning strikes, highlighting the real risk of matches at the World Cup facing long weather delays if thunderstorms hit in close proximity to the stadiums in use.

Will Castle22 June 2026 23:55

Norway line-up

Erling Haaland starts for an unchanged Norway, accompanied by Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa up front, while Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge and Kristoffer Ajer make are also among the Premier League names to keep their place.

Norway XI: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

(Reuters)

Will Castle22 June 2026 23:41

Team news

Team news for both sides should drop any time from now. A reminder that neither side has fresh injury worries to contend with, so we could see similar line-ups to those we saw on matchday one for both.

We’ll bring you the latest news from both sides when we have it.

Chris Wilson22 June 2026 23:30

Norway preview

Norway’s all-black away kit sent a hidden message ahead of the World Cup. According to manufacturers Nike, the all-black look is inspired by “Viking warriors, built to intimidate and channel Norway's fearless spirit”. That may be true, but a second interpretation is that Norway are dark horses for this World Cup.

This may be their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, but with a striker like Erling Haaland how could Norway not be put in that bracket? With 55 goals in 49 appearances for his country, Haaland averages over a goal a game for Norway, hitting 16 in qualifying alone as they defeated Italy home and away to top their group with eight wins from eight.

It’s not just Haaland, of course. Their captain Martin Odegaard should be fresh after an injury-disrupted season for Arsenal, which can help Norway avoid the fate so often suffered by Poland at recent major international tournaments where they were unable to offer anything other than a superstar striker in Robert Lewandowski. Theirs is a tough group but third place is likely to be good enough. And with Haaland’s goalscoring ability, Norway can be competitive in any game.

Senegal preview

The chaos of Rabat is still unresolved but Senegal’s reputation on the pitch remains. A second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years should have crowned Senegal as one of the finest sides the continent has produced but the decision to overturn the result of the final and name Morocco champions ensures there is unfinished business for the Lions of Teranga.

An experienced, settled squad led by the veterans Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye is complemented by the many fresh talents playing at the highest levels of the European game, such as Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Sunderland’s Habib Diarra. The Premier League connection is instructive: last year, Senegal became the first African team to beat England when they won 3-1 at the City Ground in Nottingham, and that famous result should give Pape Thiaw’s side plenty of confidence ahead of decisive clashes against European nations in France and Norway.

Thiaw was handed a five-game ban for leading his Senegal team off the pitch during the carnage of the Africa Cup of Nations final, although that punishment will not apply to World Cup games. Thiaw’s players kept their Afcon winner’s medals and they will enter the tournament with heads held high, believing they are African champions, and hoping for fewer obstacles to overcome.

Chris Wilson22 June 2026 23:10

Flash floods, high winds could cause havoc for World Cup match in New Jersey

Flash floods and severe weather could batter New Jersey and New York City on Monday, causing potential chaos ahead of a major World Cup match. ​

Senegal and Norway will face off at NYNJ Stadium on June 22, but experts have warned that rain will begin late in the morning and intensify into the afternoon. According to a message from the New York City Mayor’s Office, the downpour could even continue overnight.

Meanwhile, New York City could also experience severe thunderstorms with isolated wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph. ​

Chris Wilson22 June 2026 23:00

Lionel Messi’s historic World Cup moment sheds light on a vital quality

And the big news of the evening so far, as Lionel Messi scored his record-breaking 17th and 18th World Cup goals in a win for Argentina. Sports editor Jack Rathborn was in Dallas to take it all in...

The Texan sunlight beamed through the glass windows of the Dallas Stadium to bring a divine backdrop to Lionel Messi’s latest two-goal masterpiece.

A glorious 17th World Cup goal, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record became his latest act to bolster immortal status back home in Argentina and across the world.

After a first hat-trick on this stage to swat Algeria aside, a typically delightful finish with his left instep sent the world champions on their way to a 2-0 victory over the terrier-like Austria. And a second, his 18th in the tournament’s history, came through brute force in stoppage time to extend this relentless start from the world champions, who top Group J and have a place in the last 32 sewn up.

Jack Rathborn22 June 2026 22:47