"Rock-hard draw". Yes, that's the headline in the Norwegian VG after it was clear that Norway will face third-ranked France (second in Qatar 2022 and world champion in 2018) and 19th-ranked Senegal (Africa's second highest ranked team) in Group I. In addition, the winner of the intercontinental playoff meeting between Bolivia/Suriname and Iraq awaits.
I am optimistic and believe we have a good chance of scraping together some points, says Norway's national team captain Ståle Solbakken to Norwegian TV2, reports NTB.
Next summer it will be 28 years since Norway last played in the World Cup. That year, they defeated Brazil 2-1 in the group stage in a memorable event.
The debutant against Argentina
Now, under Solbakken's leadership, Norway has impressed tremendously, winning all eight matches in its World Cup qualifiers. Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland scored 16 of Norway's total of 37 goals.
From the draw in Washington, it can be noted that World Cup debutant Jordan will face reigning world champion Argentina in Group J.
Denmark, like Sweden, can reach the World Cup via playoff games in March. They will first face North Macedonia and the winner there will face the winner between the Czech Republic and Ireland. In the World Cup group stage, games await in Group A against the host nation Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
The giants on each side
For the first time, 48 nations will participate in the World Cup, divided into 12 groups. All group winners and runners-up will then advance to the knockout rounds, as will the eight best third-placed teams in each group.
It is also a World Cup premiere that the top nations – Spain and Argentina – end up on opposite sides of the play-off tree and cannot meet until a final. The same goes for France and England.
So far, 42 nations have qualified for the World Cup. Twenty-two nations will compete for the remaining six places in the playoff.
Group A
Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Ireland
.
Group B
Canada
Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar
Switzerland
.
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
.
Group D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
.
Group E
Germany
Curacao
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
.
Group F
Netherlands
Japanese
Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania
Tunisia
.
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
.
Group H
Spain
Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
.
Group I
France
Senegal
Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
Norway
.
Group J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
.
Group K
Portugal
New Caledonia/Jamaica/Democratic Republic of the Congo
Uzbekistan
Colombia
.
Group L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
