Norway and Sweden World Cup campaigns will continue into the round of 32, giving Nordic football two places in the first knockout phase of the expanded 2026 tournament in North America.
Norway secured qualification before its final Group I match against France, after wins over Iraq and Senegal. Sweden followed by drawing 1-1 with Japan in Dallas, a result that was enough to send Graham Potter’s side through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Norway and Sweden World Cup runs continue
The two Nordic teams have taken different routes to the knockout stage. Norway advanced with a match to spare after beating Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2, a result that confirmed its first World Cup knockout appearance since 1998. Erling Haaland scored twice against Senegal and has been central to Norway’s strong start.
The final group match against France will decide whether Norway finishes first or second in Group I. France currently has the advantage on goal difference, meaning Norway needs a win to top the group. A first-place finish would send Ståle Solbakken’s team to New York for a round-of-32 tie against one of the qualified third-placed teams. A second-place finish would instead put Norway in Dallas against the runner-up of Group E.
The most likely opponent in that scenario is Ivory Coast, according to NRK’s tournament model. But Sweden remains one of the possible options, creating a potential Nordic meeting in the first knockout round.
Sweden advance after Elanga equaliser against Japan
Sweden entered the final Group F match needing a result after a difficult group stage, including a heavy defeat to the Netherlands. Japan went ahead in the second half through Daizen Maeda, but Anthony Elanga equalised six minutes later with the goal that kept Sweden in the tournament.
The 1-1 draw left Sweden third in Group F on four points, behind the Netherlands and Japan. Under the 2026 World Cup format, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups qualify automatically, together with the eight best third-placed teams. Sweden’s total was enough to secure one of those places.
“It feels good. Of course you want to win the match,” Elanga told SVT Sport after the game. “At the end I heard the coaches say: ‘take it easy’, because I wanted to go forward with the ball. But I heard them say it because we are through. So it is nice. Very nice.”
Sweden’s opponent has not yet been confirmed. SVT reported that France or Norway are among the most likely possibilities, depending on the final group results.
Injuries add uncertainty for Sweden
Sweden’s qualification came with some concerns. Centre-back Isak Hien was forced off in the first half, while captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf also left the pitch late in the match. According to SVT, Lindelöf’s problem was cramp rather than a more serious injury.
Potter had already changed his team before the Japan match, including a switch in goal, where Jacob Widell Zetterström replaced Kristoffer Nordfeldt. The changes helped Sweden regain defensive balance after the defeat to the Netherlands, but the physical condition of the squad will be closely watched before the knockout round.
The result still gives Sweden a chance to reset. The team did not progress as one of the group’s top two, but it avoided elimination and remains in the competition.
Nordic football gets a double presence in the knockouts
The qualification of both Norway and Sweden gives the Nordic region a visible role in the first 48-team World Cup. Norway’s progress carries particular weight because it marks the country’s return to the global stage after a long absence. Sweden, more experienced at major tournaments, has reached the knockout phase despite an uneven group campaign.
For Norway, the immediate question is whether Solbakken will prioritise rotation against France or push for first place and a potentially different route through the bracket. For Sweden, the focus is recovery and preparation for an opponent that could be one of Europe’s strongest teams.
The expanded format has made the final days of the group stage more complex, especially for third-placed teams. But for Nordic football, the outcome is already clear: two Scandinavian teams are still alive at the 2026 World Cup, and one of them may soon face the other.
