Norway and Senegal face off at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Monday, June 22, 2026 in a pivotal Group I clash at the Football World Cup in 2026. Norway arrive at this fixture off the back of a commanding 4-1 opening win over Iraq, with Erling Haaland already contributing a brace on his World Cup debut. Senegal return to the same New Jersey venue where they opened the tournament, looking to bounce back after a 3-1 defeat to France in their Group I opener.
This is the first ever competitive meeting between Norway and Senegal at senior level, with their only prior encounter a 2006 friendly that Senegal won 2-1. There is no head-to-head blueprint to lean on, making fresh form and tactical preparation decisive. In this blog, you will find everything you need to watch the match live, along with confirmed team news, squad lists, tactical analysis, broadcast details, and more.
Key Details
- Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
- Kick-off Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 a.m. BST (June 23) / 10:00 a.m. AEST (June 23)
- Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
- Where to Watch: FOX (USA) | ITV1 (UK) | SBS (Australia) | Zee5 (India) | TSN (Canada)
Where to Watch Norway vs Senegal Football World Cup Match?
The match is broadcast on FOX in the United States, ITV1 in the United Kingdom, SBS in Australia, Zee5 in India, and TSN in Canada. Spanish-language viewers in the US can watch on Telemundo with streaming available via Peacock Premium.
ITV1 and ITVX in the UK offer the match free to air with no subscription required. FOX One streaming in the USA is available at $19.99 per month, though the match also airs live on the FOX broadcast network for free via a standard antenna. SBS On Demand streams all matches free in Australia without a subscription.
How to Watch Norway vs Senegal with a VPN
If you are outside the UK and want to access ITVX’s free broadcast, a VPN unlocks the stream by giving your device a British IP address. ITVX is geoblocked to UK viewers only, so connecting through a UK server is the fastest route to a free, high-quality stream of this match.
Follow these steps to watch for free:
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app on your device.
- Connect to a UK server to receive a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX at itv.com/hub and sign in or create a free account.
- Search for the Norway vs Senegal Football World Cup match and start streaming live.
Please note that use of a VPN to access geo-restricted content should comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant streaming platform.
Norway vs Senegal Football World Cup in 2026 Team News
Norway Team News
Ståle Solbakken has managed Norway since 2020 and has led the nation to their first World Cup since 1998, where he was a squad member himself. A former midfielder who earned 58 caps for Norway, Solbakken suffered a clinical death from a heart attack during training in 2001 and was revived seven minutes later. He went on to win eight Danish titles as a manager at Copenhagen before rebuilding the Norwegian national side around its current golden generation.
Norway produced an extraordinary qualifying campaign, winning all eight matches, scoring 37 goals, conceding just five, and finishing with a goal difference of plus 32. Their most historic result in that run came when they beat Moldova 11-1 in Oslo in September 2025, with Haaland scoring five and Thelo Aasgaard netting four in the same game. Their pre-tournament build-up included a 3-1 win over Sweden on June 1 and a 1-1 draw with Morocco on June 7, with Martin Ødegaard scoring in the latter.
Captain Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal pulls the strings in midfield, while Erling Haaland leads the attack with 55 international goals in 49 caps, making him the fastest player in history to reach 50 international goals. Norway went into their opener against Iraq without any major injury concerns, and Solbakken is expected to name an unchanged or near unchanged starting lineup after the 4-1 win. No fresh injury news was confirmed ahead of this fixture.
Tactical Setup: Solbakken typically deploys a fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape built around aggressive high pressing and quick transitions. Sander Berge anchors the midfield as the defensive shield that allows Ødegaard complete creative freedom ahead of him. Against Iraq, Norway created 2.87 expected goals, converted four times, and showed they can be lethal both through central combination play and direct service to Haaland in the box.
Senegal Team News
Pape Thiaw took over as Senegal head coach in December 2024, replacing the long-serving Aliou Cissé. A former forward who provided the assist for Senegal’s famous golden goal against Sweden in 2002, Thiaw is viewed as a national icon and has built strong trust within the squad. He guided Senegal through an unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign and led them to the 2025 AFCON final, though the CAF stripped them of the title following a controversial pitch-leaving incident in the closing stages of the match.
Senegal arrived at the tournament ranked 15th in the world, one of the highest-ranked African nations in the field. Their pre-tournament form included a 2-0 win over Peru and a 3-1 win over Gambia in March, followed by a 3-2 defeat to the USA on May 31 and a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia on June 9. Against France in their World Cup opener, Senegal were competitive and held their own for over an hour before conceding twice in the second half, eventually losing 3-1, with substitute Ibrahim Mbaye scoring a late consolation.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly brings 75 international caps and authoritative leadership to a central defence that will need to be at its best against Haaland and Sorloth. Sadio Mané at 34 has confirmed this tournament will be his final international campaign. He played the full 90 minutes against France and remains the creative heartbeat of a Senegal attack that also features the pace and directness of Ismaila Sarr and the goal-threatening Nicolas Jackson. No injuries were reported ahead of this fixture.
Tactical Setup: Thiaw favours a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 structure that prioritises a compact defensive block and fast counter-transitions through pace wide and centrally. Idrissa Gana Gueye, who has earned over 100 international caps, is the midfield anchor that protects the defence and distributes quickly when Senegal win the ball. Senegal sat deep against France, limited them to 1.77 expected goals in a competitive first half, but were exposed in the second half when they stopped pressing and conceded on the break.
Norway World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Orjan Nyland, Sander Tangvik, Egil Selvik
- Defenders: Kristoffer Ajer, Leo Ostigard, David Moller Wolfe, Fredrik Andre Bjorkan, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Torbjorn Heggem, Sondre Langas, Henrik Falchener, Julian Ryerson
- Midfielders: Morten Thorsby, Patrick Berg, Sander Berge, Martin Odegaard, Fredrik Aursnes, Thelo Aasgaard, Oscar Bobb
- Attackers: Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Odin Bjortuft
Senegal World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Mory Diaw, Yehvann Diouf
- Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Antoine Mendy, Ilay Camara, Abdoulaye Seck, Krepin Diatta, Mamadou Sarr
- Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pathe Ciss, Habib Diarra, Pape Matar Sarr, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
- Attackers: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, Ibrahim Mbaye, Assane Diao, Bamba Dieng
Norway vs Senegal Match Preview: Group I Decider at MetLife
Norway and Senegal meet on June 22 at MetLife Stadium in a fixture that carries round-of-32 implications for both sides. It is the first ever competitive meeting between these two nations, providing no head-to-head template and making this a genuinely open contest despite Norway’s status as slight favourites.
Norway arrived at the 2026 World Cup as dark horses and backed it up immediately with a dominant 4-1 win over Iraq that showcased every element of Ståle Solbakken’s system. Haaland led the line with a brace, Sorloth linked everything up, and the midfield pressed relentlessly to win the ball back high up the pitch. Senegal had their moments against France, playing a competitive first half before conceding twice in the second half. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye’s late consolation gave the squad something to build on and reminded the group of the attacking depth Thiaw can call upon.
The stakes are straightforward: Norway win to move to six points and almost certainly confirm progression. Senegal need at least a draw to stay in realistic contention for a top-two finish or one of the best third-place spots. A defeat for Senegal would leave them requiring Iraq to do them a favour while also beating a likely rotation-focused France side in the final group game.
Tactical Outlook: Norway will look to exploit the spaces Senegal left in their central defence against France, where the back line was stretched by Mbappé’s movement. Haaland’s strength and aerial dominance present a direct route to goal that is entirely different from the passing threat France posed. Ødegaard’s role will be to find Haaland’s runs and Nusa’s pace wide before Senegal can set their defensive shape. For Senegal, winning this match means Mané, Sarr, and Jackson must be more clinical than they were in the opener. Pathe Ciss acknowledged publicly after the France defeat that they fell asleep in the second half and gave the opposition too much space. Gueye’s energy in midfield against Berge and Ødegaard will be a central battle within the game, and the team that wins that duel will likely control the tempo.
Football World Cup in 2026 Match Schedule (Group Stage, Selected Fixtures)
| Date | Day | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | France vs Iraq | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | Norway vs Senegal | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | Argentina vs Austria | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| June 23, 2026 | Tuesday | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| June 23, 2026 | Tuesday | England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| June 23, 2026 | Tuesday | Panama vs Croatia | BMO Field, Toronto |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | Scotland vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | Switzerland vs Canada | BC Place, Vancouver |
| June 24, 2026 | Wednesday | Czechia vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| June 25, 2026 | Thursday | Spain vs Colombia | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | Norway vs France | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | Senegal vs Iraq | BMO Field, Toronto |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in 2026 Football World Cup
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
The Stars to Watch in 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this World Cup was confirmed at a official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the 2026 Football World Cup Qatar in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Norway vs Senegal kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, June 22, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. UK viewers can watch the match from 1:00 a.m. BST on Tuesday, June 23.
Both teams are in Group I at the 2026 Football World Cup. The group also contains France and Iraq, with the top two teams guaranteed a place in the Round of 32 alongside the eight best third-placed finishers across all 12 groups.
Norway won all eight of their qualifying matches, scoring 37 goals and conceding five. In their most recent pre-tournament friendlies, they beat Sweden 3-1 on June 1 and drew 1-1 with Morocco on June 7. They opened the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win over Iraq, with Haaland scoring twice.
Senegal went unbeaten through World Cup qualifying and won the 2025 AFCON, though the title was later stripped by CAF following a pitch-leaving incident. In their most recent pre-tournament results, they lost 3-2 to the USA on May 31 and drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia on June 9. They lost 3-1 to France in their World Cup opener despite a competitive first half.
Erling Haaland leads Norway’s attack and already has two World Cup goals after his brace against Iraq. Martin Ødegaard orchestrates from midfield and scored in Norway’s final pre-tournament friendly. For Senegal, Sadio Mané remains the creative leader and is confirmed to be playing his final international tournament. Ibrahim Mbaye, who came off the bench to score against France, gives Thiaw a dynamic option in attack.
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