Norway vs Senegal: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Erling Haaland & Sadio Mané

Three points separates the two sides on the points table.

Norway and Senegal will lock horns at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 23rd, 2026. The clash will be the second game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for both nations. Norway won 4-1 against Iraq in their opening game and currently leads Group I.

Norway finished ahead of Italy during the World Cup qualifiers and are one of the most improved national teams in the world.

Senegal, on the other hand, suffered a 3-1 loss against France and are in desperate need to get some points on board. Senegal were knocked out by England in the Round of 16 during the 2022 edition of the competition. A win will keep them in the race for qualification, as even the eight best placed third spot teams will also qualify for the Round of 32.

Senegal, on the other hand, had a difficult start to the tournament as they lost 3-1 against 2022 World Cup finalists, France. They displayed their quality in the first half, but they were utterly blown away by Didier Deschamps’ side during the second half. A win will be the only plausible result for them, as a draw or a loss will most likely eliminate them from the tournament. Before the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Senegal lost 3-2 against the USA and played a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.

Considering the high stakes, along with a collective team performance, individual players of both sides will also have to step up. Therefore, in this article, we will take a look at the top 5 players to watch out for during the Norway and Senegal game.

5. Alexander Sørloth (Norway)

Alexander Sørloth scored 20 goals in 54 appearances for Atletico Madrid in the 2025/26 season. He is an old school striker who relies on his physicality and runs into the box to hurt his opponents. His hold-up play is also incredible, as it allows his teammates to exploit the space he creates by engaging opposing defenders. His off the ball movement is also impressive as he reads the game very well and pops up into the right areas at the right time.

4. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal)

Kalidou Koulibaly is currently playing his club football for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. He is a destroyer who knows when to hold and jump his defensive line. His physicality also helps him in containing the opposing strikers. He rarely loses his ground and aerial duels and will be one of the most important players for Senegal against Norway.

3. Martin Ødegaard (Norway)

Coming in at number three on our list is Norwegian captain, Martin Ødegaard. 2025/26 was the best season of his career yet as he led Arsenal to their first ever Premier League title in 23 years. He is the main creative force of his side and even registered an assist against Iraq during his opening game of the FIFA World Cup. His ability to control the tempo of the game will come in handy for Norway against a physical side like Senegal.

2. Sadio Mané (Senegal)

The importance of Sadio Mane for Senegal is not just limited to his on-pitch performances. He is their leader, and his mere presence provides extra motivation to the entire group. He has led them to continental success in the past and will play a crucial role in this must-win game. Despite him losing some of his electric pace over the past few years, Sadio Mane remains Senegal’s most effective attacker and will look to deliver for his country on such a massive stage yet again.

1. Erling Haaland (Norway)

Topping our list is arguably the best striker in the world, Erling Haaland. He had yet another successful and prolific season with Manchester City as he scored 38 goals across all competitions and won the EFL and FA Cup. He has scored 55 goals for the national team already in just 50 appearances and has already registered two goals in the ongoing tournament. He can easily take the game away from Senegal, and they will have to organise their defence in order to neutralize him.