Women's World Cup: Norway Women's Team Profile

Norway reached the finals of the first two Women's World Cups, lifting the trophy in 1995, and their 2023 squad features players from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

After a disappointing group-stage exit at Euro 2022, Norway are aiming to show their quality on the world stage and they are 50/1 to win the World Cup which is co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Norway's World Cup record:

Norway reached the inaugural Women's World Cup final in China in 1991, thumping neighbours Sweden 4-1 in the semi-final before suffering a 2-1 defeat to the USA in Guangzhou.

Four years later, they won all six of their matches at the finals in Sweden, scoring 23 goals, conceding just once, and landed the title with a 2-0 victory over Germany in the final.

Norway made the World Cup semi-finals in 1999 and 2007 but their last three campaigns have been less memorable. 

In 2011, defeats to Brazil and Australia meant they failed to qualify from their group and in 2015 they were beaten 2-1 in the last 16 by England, who trailed 1-0 but turned the game around with second-half goals from Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze.

At the last World Cup in 2019, Norway edged past Australia on penalties in the round of 16 but again ran into the Lionesses, who eased to a 3-0 victory in the quarter-finals.

How Norway qualified:

Norway breezed through UEFA qualifying, winning nine of their 10 matches in Group F and only dropping points in a 0-0 draw away to Poland.

Their dominance was reflected by a goal difference of +45, with 47 goals scored and only two conceded, and they thrashed Armenia 10-0 both home and away.

Norway shared the goals around in qualifying, with seven of their players scoring at least three times, although their six-goal top scorer Lisa-Marie Karlseng Utland is not part of their squad for the finals.   

The Manager - Hege Riise:

Hege Riise had an outstanding career as a midfielder for Norway, earning 188 international caps and winning the 1993 European Championships, 1995 World Cup and the Olympic Games in 2000.

She was named as Norway's greatest ever female player by the country's Football Association in 2003 and started her coaching career at Team Strommen in Oslo, also working with the Norway Under-23 team.

From 2009 to 2012, Riise was assistant manager of the USA national team before leading LSK Kvinner to four consecutive league titles in Norway from 2016 to 2019.

In 2021, she had spells as England's interim boss and as coach of the Great Britain team who made the quarter-finals of the football tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, and she was appointed Norway manager in August 2022.

Confirmed Norway squad:

Goalkeepers: Guro Pettersen, Cecilie Fiskerstrand, Aurora Mikalsen

Defenders: Anja Sonstevold, Mathilde Harviken, Tuva Hansen, Maren Mjelde, Guro Bergsvand, Marit Bratberg Lund, Sara Horte

Midfielders: Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Vilde Boe Risa, Guro Reiten, Thea Bjelde, Amalie Eikeland, Julie Blakstad, Frida Maanum

Forwards: Caroline Graham Hansen, Karina Saevik, Ada Hegerberg, Sophie Roman Haug, Anna Josendal, Emilie Haavi

Reserve players: Elisabeth Terland, Emma Stolen Godo, Malin Brenn

Norway's Key Players:

Ada Hegerberg is one of the biggest stars in women's football, winning the inaugural Ballon d'Or in 2018, and the Lyon striker will be desperate to make her mark at the World Cup.

Hegerberg failed to score in three group games at last summer's Euros in England and injury restricted her to just five league appearances, four as a substitute for Lyon during the 2022/23 club season. 

She still managed to score four goals and the six-time Champions League winner should be fit and firing for Norway's World Cup campaign.

Barcelona forward Caroline Graham Hansen is another attacking threat for the Norwegians.

She is closing in on 100 international caps and has scored 44 goals while Roma's Sophie Roman Haug has found the net five times in her first eight appearances for her country.

The team will be captained by vastly experienced Chelsea defender Maren Mjelde and midfielder Guro Reiten also plays her club football for the Blues in England.

Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum had an excellent campaign in the Women's Super League and the Champions League, scoring five goals as the Gunners reached the semi-finals of the European competition.

Maanum has already won 65 caps at the age of just 23 and Manchester City's 21-year-old midfielder Julie Blakstad is another exciting prospect for Norway.   

Norway's Group fixtures:

Group A:
New Zealand vs Norway, Auckland, 20th July 2023
Switzerland vs Norway, Hamilton, 25th July 2023
Norway vs Philippines, Auckland, 30th July 2023