Monterrey and Toluca fight a decisive battle in the Quarterfinals

Norway returns to the World Cup. The men’s team, led by Ståle Solbakken and with Martin Ødegaard as captain, secured its ticket to the 2026 World Cup, ending a 28-year streak without participating in a major tournament since Euro 2000.

The team is in Group I of the UEFA qualifying round and plays at home at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. Individually, John Arne Riise holds the record for appearances with 110 games, while Erling Haaland is the all-time top scorer with 55 goals.

Expected return

Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup represents a milestone. Norway had been absent from twelve consecutive major tournaments since Euro 2000. Their previous World Cup appearances were in 1938, 1994 and 1998, where their best result was the group stage.

The preparation includes friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland, scheduled for March 27 and 31, 2026. The player numbers were updated after the duel against Switzerland on March 31.

Signs of the moment

A symbolic detail: Norway wore a golden version of its shield in a match against Italy on November 16, 2025, to commemorate qualification. The team’s visual identity has evolved: since the 1920s it used the national flag on a white circle; In May 2008 he presented a Viking dragon that he later retired; and on December 12, 2014, a new emblem was released with the flag and elements of the national coat of arms.

A curious fact

Norway has a favorable record against Brazil. In four games, they have two wins and two draws, without losses. One of those games was in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup.

The opinion of a legend

Tim Howard, emblematic former goalkeeper of the American team, generated controversy when evaluating his country’s chances in the World Cup. With three World Cup appearances (2006, 2010, 2014), he is well aware of the challenge it entails.

“The United States will need to play the best game in their history three times in a row. Sorry, four games in a row! … It is literally impossible for them to win the World Cup,” Howard told Polymarket Sports.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team started with a perfect pace: two wins, six goals for and only one against. Mexico and the United States have already secured their place in the next phase as group leaders. Canada, the third host, has not yet qualified.

Despite the solid performance, Howard considers that surpassing the quarterfinals – the best historical record for the US, excluding third place in 1930 – remains a distant goal. His frankness discouraged followers who were excited about a historic campaign.

Next challenge

This Thursday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m., the United States will face Turkey. They could achieve three wins in the group stage for the first time. In the round of 32, their rival would emerge from a group of third places: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Sweden, Senegal or Jordan.

The team seeks to demonstrate on the court that the doubts of a legend like Howard do not reflect the reality of the current team.

Two ties with a different flavor. For Uruguay, frustration; for Cape Verde, another chapter of history. The African team, in its senior debut in a World Cup, rescued a 2-2 defeat against the Celeste in Miami and keeps alive the dream of advancing to the direct elimination phase.

Cape Verde continues making history

Kevin Pina opened the scoring with a powerful free kick that beat Fernando Muslera, Cape Verde’s first goal in a World Cup. Helio Varela, who recently entered, tied the game in the second half with a shot that surprised the Uruguayan goalkeeper ahead.

“When we defended well, we made a difference; when we gave up the spotlight, the difference was shortened,” explained Marcelo Bielsa, coach of Uruguay. Varela celebrated with euphoria, while Muslera and his teammates lowered their heads.

The goalkeeper Vozinha, 40 years old, was once again a figure. His mother, who could not travel to the game against Spain due to visa problems, this time watched it from the stands. It was the first World Cup match with two starting goalkeepers over 40 years old: Muslera turned 40 on June 16.

Uruguay, on the brink of the abyss

Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio put Uruguay ahead before the break. But defensive errors doomed the team. “Receiving a goal like the one we received helps a team with fewer resources to be present,” lamented Bielsa. “Organizational errors are the driver’s responsibility.”

Uruguay has two points, the same as Cape Verde, while Spain leads Group H with four after beating Saudi Arabia. La Celeste will face Spain on Friday with the obligation to win. “We have to beat him, it is an enormous challenge,” said Bielsa.

Meanwhile, France beat Senegal 3-1 with a double from Kylian Mbappé, who has 14 goals in three World Cups, two shy of Messi and Klose’s record. Argentina, current champion, faces Austria with Messi in search of becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer (he shares the record with 16 goals) and achieving his 18th victory in the World Cup.