The Norway national football team represents the country in international men's football and is governed by the Norwegian Football Federation (Norges Fotballforbund), which was founded in 1902, making it one of the older football associations in Europe. The team competes under the auspices of UEFA and FIFA, and its home fixtures are traditionally played at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
Norway's most celebrated period came in the 1990s, when the team qualified for the FIFA World Cup in both 1994 and 1998. The 1998 campaign in France stands as a particular highlight, as Norway reached the Round of 16 after famously defeating Brazil in the group stage — a result that remains one of the most iconic moments in Norwegian football history. That generation featured world-class talents who were playing at the highest club level across Europe.
The team has historically been a competitive force within UEFA qualifying campaigns, though consistent progression to major tournaments has proved elusive across the decades. Norway have never won the UEFA European Championship and have not qualified for a World Cup since 1998, a prolonged absence that has defined much of the national conversation around the sport.
In the current era, attention has turned to a new generation led by prolific striker Erling Haaland, whose extraordinary goalscoring record has renewed optimism about a return to the international stage. Norway's footballing identity is closely tied to a direct, physically robust style of play, and the domestic pyramid — anchored by Eliteserien at the top — continues to develop talent for both the national team and European club football.