Norway tops World Cup ranking after Guardian analysis

Norway's national team has been ranked better than England by the English newspaper The Guardian, moving us five places higher than the previous update. This places us ahead of England, Portugal and several other nations in the World Cup race. Erling Haaland scored the winning goal against Ivory Coast, and the coach's decision to rotate the squad against France has been praised as a smart tactic.

Why does Guardian rank us above England?

The Guardian highlights that two consecutive matches with ten changes in the starting XI proved effective. They note that Haaland, often playing anonymously, is always ready to find the net – he delivered against Ivory Coast. Additionally, Norway now sits ahead of Brazil in the ranking, even though Brazil is our next World Cup opponent on Sunday.

What does this mean for the World Cup match against France?

The upcoming clash with France, regarded as the tournament's strongest side, will test whether the rotation truly pays off. Norway recently lost 1‑4 to France on 26 June 2026 (Last result: Norway 1-4 France (2026-06-26)). Recent form reads 1W‑1D‑2L, with the last two games being defeats. Still, Haaland remains top scorer with 7 goals in 4 appearances, offering hope the attack can reverse the trend.

What lies ahead in the next round?

The next fixture is at home against Portugal on 27 September 2026 (Next fixture: vs Portugal (at home, 2026-09-27)). Portugal boasts Cristiano Ronaldo up front, but our recent ranking climb could give the side extra confidence. If we maintain Haaland's offensive output and exploit the coach's rotation strategy, we may keep Portugal at bay in the Nations League this autumn.

How does this affect the national team's future?

The ranking provides Norway a stronger bargaining position both in the group stage and any qualifying rounds. With Haaland's goal record and a coach willing to experiment, the outlook looks brighter. Fans can expect more surprises as we face the tournament's biggest nations.