Norway face Senegal in the second round of games in World Cup 2026 Group I this evening, with Erling Haaland hoping to lead his nation to a potentially pivotal victory in New Jersey.
Stale Solbakken’s side were convincing winners as they beat Iraq 4-1 in Boston in their opening game, and they will look to keep the pace with France tonight as Les Bleus face Iraq in Philadelphia.
And while they will hope to contend for first place in the group when they face France later this week, the Norwegians will know that a win this evening all but guarantees a spot in the last 32.
However, they’ll have to get past a tricky Senegal side first of all, with the Lions of Teranga hoping to get their own campaign on track after losing 3-1 to France in their opener.
Follow all of the latest from the World Cup clash with our live blog below:
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Norway v Senegal LIVE
- Norway take on Senegal in Group I of World Cup | Kick-off at 1am BST, live on ITV1
- Erling Haaland double helped Norway to 4-1 opening win over Iraq
- Senegal meanwhile suffered 3-1 loss to France despite decent showing
- Norway XI: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa
- Senegal XI: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; I Gueye, P Gueye; Sarr, Camara, Mane; Jackson
France v Iraq delayed due to lightning
23:55 , Will CastleTonight’s other Group I clash has been derailed by bad weather.
France’s group-stage clash with Iraq was delayed mid-match due to lightning in the area as Fifa’s World Cup 2026 weather protocol was actioned.
After heavy rain brought about the wettest half of football seen at this World Cup so far, the storm in the Philadelphia area escalated at half-time to lightning, meaning players and fans were forced inside.
Fifa is adhering to rules set by local authorities during the tournament, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) saying that if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium the game has to be stopped.
This sparks a countdown of 15 minutes, which resets every time another lightning strike happens. Once that 15-minute timer has elapsed, the players return to the pitch for a 15-minute warm-up.
The restart at Lincoln Financial Field is already believed to have been pushed back beyond the minimum wait of 30 minutes due to more lightning strikes, highlighting the real risk of matches at the World Cup facing long weather delays if thunderstorms hit in close proximity to the stadiums in use.
France v Iraq delayed due to lightning as Fifa action weather protocol
Senegal line-up
23:45 , Will CastleAlso unchanged, Senegal stick with the team that lost 3-1 to France last time out. Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr provide the threat up top.
Senegal XI: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; I Gueye, P Gueye; Sarr, Camara, Mane; Jackson.
Norway line-up
23:41 , Will CastleErling Haaland starts for an unchanged Norway, accompanied by Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa up front, while Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge and Kristoffer Ajer make are also among the Premier League names to keep their place.
Norway XI: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.
Haaland: the king of efficency
23:40 , Alan SmithFor all the headlines with Mbappe and Messi’s name in them, the Norway forward was devastating in the opener against Iraq
Most clinical #FIFAWC2026 players as per fewest touches per goal 😎, >90 minutes (@impect_official)
— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) June 22, 2026
🥇 #ErlingHaaland 🇳🇴 & #BrianBrobbey 🇳🇱 8.5 ❗️#Senegal is warned 🚧 #NORSEN#Undav 🇩🇪 #Musa 🇭🇷 #Larin 🇨🇦 #Mbappe 🇫🇷 #Kane 🏴 #David 🇨🇦 #Ueda 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/q6IF2pQ037
Team news
23:30 , Chris WilsonTeam news for both sides should drop any time from now. A reminder that neither side has fresh injury worries to contend with, so we could see similar line-ups to those we saw on matchday one for both.
We’ll bring you the latest news from both sides when we have it.
Norway preview
23:20 , Chris WilsonNorway’s all-black away kit sent a hidden message ahead of the World Cup. According to manufacturers Nike, the all-black look is inspired by “Viking warriors, built to intimidate and channel Norway's fearless spirit”. That may be true, but a second interpretation is that Norway are dark horses for this World Cup.
This may be their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, but with a striker like Erling Haaland how could Norway not be put in that bracket? With 55 goals in 49 appearances for his country, Haaland averages over a goal a game for Norway, hitting 16 in qualifying alone as they defeated Italy home and away to top their group with eight wins from eight.
It’s not just Haaland, of course. Their captain Martin Odegaard should be fresh after an injury-disrupted season for Arsenal, which can help Norway avoid the fate so often suffered by Poland at recent major international tournaments where they were unable to offer anything other than a superstar striker in Robert Lewandowski. Theirs is a tough group but third place is likely to be good enough. And with Haaland’s goalscoring ability, Norway can be competitive in any game.
Senegal preview
23:10 , Chris WilsonThe chaos of Rabat is still unresolved but Senegal’s reputation on the pitch remains. A second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years should have crowned Senegal as one of the finest sides the continent has produced but the decision to overturn the result of the final and name Morocco champions ensures there is unfinished business for the Lions of Teranga.
An experienced, settled squad led by the veterans Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye is complemented by the many fresh talents playing at the highest levels of the European game, such as Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Sunderland’s Habib Diarra. The Premier League connection is instructive: last year, Senegal became the first African team to beat England when they won 3-1 at the City Ground in Nottingham, and that famous result should give Pape Thiaw’s side plenty of confidence ahead of decisive clashes against European nations in France and Norway.
Thiaw was handed a five-game ban for leading his Senegal team off the pitch during the carnage of the Africa Cup of Nations final, although that punishment will not apply to World Cup games. Thiaw’s players kept their Afcon winner’s medals and they will enter the tournament with heads held high, believing they are African champions, and hoping for fewer obstacles to overcome.
Flash floods, high winds could cause havoc for World Cup match in New Jersey
23:00 , Chris WilsonFlash floods and severe weather could batter New Jersey and New York City on Monday, causing potential chaos ahead of a major World Cup match.
Senegal and Norway will face off at NYNJ Stadium on June 22, but experts have warned that rain will begin late in the morning and intensify into the afternoon. According to a message from the New York City Mayor’s Office, the downpour could even continue overnight.
Meanwhile, New York City could also experience severe thunderstorms with isolated wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
Severe weather could cause chaos for World Cup match in New Jersey
Lionel Messi’s historic World Cup moment sheds light on a vital quality
22:47 , Jack RathbornAnd the big news of the evening so far, as Lionel Messi scored his record-breaking 17th and 18th World Cup goals in a win for Argentina. Sports editor Jack Rathborn was in Dallas to take it all in...
The Texan sunlight beamed through the glass windows of the Dallas Stadium to bring a divine backdrop to Lionel Messi’s latest two-goal masterpiece.
A glorious 17th World Cup goal, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record became his latest act to bolster immortal status back home in Argentina and across the world.
After a first hat-trick on this stage to swat Algeria aside, a typically delightful finish with his left instep sent the world champions on their way to a 2-0 victory over the terrier-like Austria. And a second, his 18th in the tournament’s history, came through brute force in stoppage time to extend this relentless start from the world champions, who top Group J and have a place in the last 32 sewn up.
Lionel Messi’s historic World Cup moment sheds light on a vital quality
Team news
22:35 , Chris WilsonAs for Senegal, there are no new injury worries for the Lions of Teranga either, so we’ll likely see a similar starting line-up to the one that faced France.
As is the case with Norway, the Senegal front three is the heart of the team, led by Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr.
Nevertheless, the likes of Lamine Camara and Iliman Ndiaye mean that there’s plenty of talent throughout this squad.
Team news
22:30 , Chris WilsonThere are no new injury concerns for Norway after their opening win, so we could well see a similar team to the one that started their opener last week.
Erling Haaland will of course lead the line, with Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa likely to help him in attack.
In midfield, Martin Odegaard remains the key man, with the capable Sander Berge and Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes in support.
How Kylian Mbappe inspired France’s devastating win over Senegal – and broke records on the way
22:20 , Chris WilsonAnd here’s what happened in Senegal’s first outing...
Now Kylian Mbappe has accelerated past Pele. Just Fontaine and Olivier Giroud, too. A record-breaking goal in French history came during a landmark brace in World Cups. More immediately, though, it gave France and Mbappe a winning start. His quest to play in a third World Cup final at just 27 is up and running.
Mbappe’s magnificent double, sandwiching a strike from Bradley Barcola, prevented a repeat of 2002 and rewrote many a record book. Mbappe’s goals were his 57th and 58th goal for his country. He leapfrogged his old partner Giroud, who broke Thierry Henry’s France record at the last World Cup, and knew he was only borrowing it before Mbappe claimed it, presumably to keep for rather longer. Some 14 of them have come in World Cups: Fontaine got 13 in one tournament alone while Pele’s dozen took four. That, too, may be another record Mbappe is destined to hold. Miroslav Klose could lose it in the next few weeks.
How Mbappe inspired France’s devastating win over Senegal
Erling Haaland scores twice on World Cup debut as Norway hammer Iraq
22:10 , Chris WilsonLast time out for Norway...
Erling Haaland opened his World Cup account with a brace on his tournament debut as Norway rolled past Iraq 4-1 in Boston.
Norway, appearing in the tournament for the first time in 28 years, took the lead after 29 minutes as Sander Berge played David Moller Wolfe in on the left of the penalty area and his low cross was turned in at the back post by Haaland.
Moments later, the Manchester City striker almost turned provider after latching on to Antonio Nusa’s fine pass and feeding Alexander Sorloth, whose shot was well blocked, with Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard firing wide as Norway continued to dominate.
Erling Haaland scores twice on World Cup debut as Norway hammer Iraq
Norway vs Senegal live
22:04 , Chris WilsonTonight’s game is taking place at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (which is the venue that will also host the final on 19th July).
Kick-off is set for 8pm local time, and 1am BST (on Tuesday, 23rd June).
Good evening
21:58 , Chris WilsonHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s World Cup group game between Norway and Senegal in Philadelphia.
Erling Haaland and co. are hoping to make it two wins from two after their opening win over Iraq last week, while Senegal are looking to get their campaign off the ground after losing to France in their opener.
We’ll have all the latest team news and updates right here.
