JAKARTA, JOURNALARTA.COM – Norway vs Senegal in Matchday 2 of 2026 World Cup Group I is no ordinary game. It is a survival test: if Senegal lose, they are almost out, while a Norway win would seal a place in the round of 32.
The match kicks off on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. WIB at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a venue that will also stage the World Cup final on July 19. This is where Erling Haaland and Sadio Mané finally meet on football’s biggest stage.
Group I standings before kickoff
Matchday 1 already told a clear story. Norway crushed Iraq 4-1, with Haaland scoring twice on his World Cup debut. One line says it all: first appearance, instant brace.
Senegal experienced the opposite. They lost 1-3 to France. Worse, Nicolas Jackson’s goal was ruled out by the referee for a tight offside. Before this match, Senegal had gone 43 straight games without conceding three goals. That run is gone now.
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 (4-1) | 3 |
| 2 | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 (3-1) | 3 |
| 3 | Senegal | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 (1-3) | 0 |
| 4 | Iraq | 1 | 0 | 1 | -3 (1-4) | 0 |
Norway need just one more win to advance to the round of 32. Senegal have no room left to waste.
Norway’s strength: everything runs through Haaland
The numbers do not lie. Against Iraq, Norway attempted 11 of their 12 shots from inside the box, with an average shooting distance of just 10 yards. That was the closest of any team at the 2026 World Cup so far. Their approach is simple but ruthless: feed the ball to Haaland and let the Manchester City striker do the rest.
Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal captain who delivered seven assists during qualifying, drives the midfield. Young winger Antonio Nusa adds danger from the flank. But everything still points to one name.
Haaland is now in the Golden Boot conversation alongside Mbappé and Kane, with odds of +1200. For Senegal, he is the top threat that must be stopped from the opening minutes.
Senegal: cornered, but still dangerous
A cornered team can be the hardest to beat. Senegal have Sadio Mané, the man who helped lead them to the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals. They also have Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye on the wings, enough to make Norway’s back line work hard.
Their main problem is at the back. Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy faced eight shots on target against France. Kalidou Koulibaly will need to be much better if Senegal want to stop Norway’s scoring machine.
But one thing cannot be ignored: in 2002, Senegal beat defending champions France in the group stage. Pressure is not new to them.
Their recent form is uneven: L-D-L-W across their last four matches. Still, being backed into a corner can bring out something different.
Projected lineups
Norway are likely to use a 4-3-3 with Ørjan Nyland in goal. The back four could feature Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, and Wolfe. Berge, Aursnes, and Ødegaard are expected in midfield, with Nusa and Sørloth supporting Haaland up front.
Senegal may go more attacking than in their opener. Mendy remains the first-choice goalkeeper, while Koulibaly leads the defense. Mané and Jackson are expected to headline the attack.
Norway vs Senegal prediction and analysis
FoxSports lists Norway at 2.20 odds to win and predicts a 2-1 scoreline. USA Today sees a range from 2-2 to a 3-2 Norway win.
This game could open up quickly. Norway have the firepower, but a desperate Senegal can also leave space for counterattacks. If Haaland is locked down, an upset remains possible, and a 1-1 draw is still within reach.
Still, if the supply line to Haaland works as it did against Iraq, a 2-1 Norway win looks like the most realistic outcome.
Schedule and how to watch
Kickoff: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. WIB. The match will air live on FOX for viewers in the United States. Streaming is available on Fubo and the FOX One app, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock.
MetLife Stadium is not just another World Cup venue. With a capacity of more than 82,000, it has already been confirmed as the host of the final on July 19, giving every match there extra weight.
This is also the first official World Cup meeting between the two teams. Their only previous clash came in a 2006 friendly, won 2-1 by Senegal.
“We came here to win. There is no other option,” Mané said during a team training session, according to Senegalese media ahead of the match.
For live scores, schedules, analysis, predictions, game updates, and the latest 2026 World Cup news, visit: JournalArta Special Event https://journalarta.com/piala-dunia-2026/
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