The coach of the Norwegian national team, Stale Solbakken, stated that England is the favorite to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. However, he also emphasized the potential of his team led by young star Erling Haaland.

2026 World Cup: Norway Coach Calls England Favorites Going In

According to Bbc.

Background

Stale Solbakken, the Norwegian coach, leads a team full of talented players from the Premier League, including Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. Norway's success against Brazil in the last 16 shows their potential to compete at the highest level, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Why this is important

Stale Solbakken's statement regarding England as favorites for the 2026 World Cup semifinals highlights the challenges facing Norway. With young stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, Norway is trying to prove that they can compete with big teams. This match was also an important moment for Norway, who returned to the World Cup after 25 years.

Main Points

2026 World Cup: Norway Coach Calls England Favorites to Go.
The coach of the Norwegian national team, Stale Solbakken, stated that England is the favorite to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.
Stale Solbakken remains central to England's plans.

The coach of the Norwegian national team, Stale Solbakken, revealed that England are the favorites to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. In an interview with BBC Sport, Solbakken stated, "They are the favorites, but not too big." The match between England and Norway is scheduled to take place in Miami on Saturday (22:00 BST). Norway, who managed to eliminate Brazil, five-time world champions, in the round of 16, is now preparing to face a big challenge. Solbakken emphasized that although England has greater pressure, his team must also be able to perform well. "After the game started, I don't think the players thought about the pressure," he added. The Norwegian team is filled with talented players from the Premier League, including Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. "Brazil and England are probably the two biggest countries we could face in this World Cup in terms of history," said Solbakken. The winner of this encounter will meet Argentina or Switzerland next Wednesday (20:00 BST) in Atlanta for a place in the final scheduled for July 19. Erling Haaland was in the spotlight with the seven goals he scored during Norway's historic journey to the quarter-finals. This is Norway's first World Cup appearance since 1998 and they have reached the furthest stage in the team's history. After beating hosts Mexico 3-2 in the last 16, despite having one of their players, Jarell Quansah, sent off in the 54th minute, Solbakken expressed his admiration for the England team. "We need to compete and defend well. We have to concentrate on the pitch and then we can be ourselves," he said. ![Image](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1200/cpsprodpb/a099/live/94bf2710-7c96-11f1-9b18-bb5b415621a9.jpg) Solbakken also highlighted the ability of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to score goals from advantageous positions. According to him, England's most impressive game was when they beat Mexico very well, where Mexico didn't create many chances. Norway had 66.4% ball possession in their historic win over Brazil. However, when asked if he expected his team to have as much possession of the ball against England, Solbakken replied, "No. It's getting hot. We've been training with low intensity. We're focused on recovering for tomorrow's game." Thousands of Norwegian fans have arrived in Miami to watch one of the biggest matches in their country's football history. Solbakken, who played for Norway when they last appeared at the World Cup, said, "This World Cup journey has united our country. All of Norway is looking forward to tomorrow's match." In the press conference, he also paid tribute to his childhood idol, Kevin Keegan, the former England captain and manager who revealed he was suffering from stage four cancer. "My biggest regret in World Cup history was when Kevin Keegan didn't score when he came on as a substitute against Spain in 1982," he recalled. With all attention on this match, both Norway and England will try to give their best performance in order to continue their journey at the 2026 World Cup.

What happened next

The match between England and Norway in Miami will determine who advances to the semifinals. The winner of this match will face Argentina or Switzerland in the battle for a place in the 2026 World Cup final. With Haaland's outstanding performance, Norway will hope to continue their impressive run.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Norwegian coach say about England?

The coach of the Norwegian national team, Stale Solbakken, called England the favorite team to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.

Who confirmed that England are the favourites?

Stale Solbakken, coach of the Norwegian national team, confirmed that England were the favourites.

Why are England considered favorites now?

England are considered favorites as they have greater pressure and strong performance in the tournament.

What changes have occurred in the Norwegian team?

The Norwegian team is now filled with talented players from the Premier League, including Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.

When is the match between England and Norway scheduled to take place?

The match between England and Norway is scheduled to take place in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

2026 World Cup: Norway Coach Names England Favorites to Go