Norway: The Dark Horse tells the inside story of how Norway qualified for WC2026, as told by those who finally did it. It is an engaging 2-episode docuseries that was released on Netflix just prior to the start of the tournament. Which meant that I didn’t have time to watch it until after the WC was over.
And while the series would have given me more insight to Norway’s team while they were playing, it is still enjoyable even though we know Norway was eliminated in the Quarter-Finals. The whole point of the docuseries is to show how Norway qualified for the WC for the first time in 28 years. Their energy and confidence (plus Erling Haaland and the rowing chanting Norwegian fans) continued to flow and led Norway to their best WC performance ever.
It seems like every World Cup has a team that hasn’t been there in decades. So it’s not an unusual story, but it is always an inspiring story.
The Story
In the first episode, we see how Norway’s last golden generation was in the 1990s and played well at WC1994 (also played in the USA). After that it was proverbial wandering in the desert of non-qualifying for any tournament, and often getting eliminated at the last possible moment.
After generations of self-defeat, Norway and Federation president Lise Klaveness select Manager Ståle Sobakken to run the NT. He doesn’t have the best credentials, but Klaveness sticks with him and says they will go down together.
A nice feature of the series is that we meet many players: not just Erling Haaland (ManCity) and Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), but also Sander Berge (Fulham), Leo Siri Østigård (Genoa), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Kristoffer Vassbakk Ajer (Brentford), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), and Ørjan Håskjold Nyland (GK for Sevilla).
We learn that Manager Ståle at age 33, went into cardiac arrest while playing. He was dead for 5 mins and in a coma for 30 hours. After the incident, he retired from playing. The episode is aptly named “Ståle’s Last Chance”.
Episode 2 starts with Norway’s last qualifying game, away vs Italy at the San Siro, where Italy has never lost. After being behind 0-1 at half time, they score 4 goals in the 2nd half. Norway remain undefeated in qualifying. Huge crowds show up in City Hall Square to celebrate their qualification to the WC.
The remainder of the show is about getting ready for the WC and determining the final roster. Because the small club Bodo/Glimt had an unbelievable run in the Champions League, Ståle considers its players Jens Petter Hauge (for his X-Factor) and Odin Bjortuft. They are both long shots to make the team. The final roster is announced just 3 weeks before the tournament, and no player is told in advance.
Vikings are tough but also respectful. They thank all the volunteers in the football chain who made this achievement possible. To them, dugnad (volunteering) is the finest word in the Norwegian language.
Special note
Lise Klaveness is a former NT footballer and one of the few females in FIFA. She has also been one of the few vocal critics of FIFA and Gianni Infantino’s corrupt practices. She has not been afraid to speak up.
8 Soccer Movie Mom Rating = 8
Resources:
- Released: 2026-06-09 (Netflix)
- Original title is Norges vei tilbake, which means “Norway’s path back”
- In Norwegian with English sub-titles
- Series is 2 hrs 1 min
- IMDB
- Director: Emil Trier
- Stars: Ståle Sobakken , Erling Haaland , Martin Ødegaard
- Watch the Trailer
