England will meet Norway in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup on July 11, with a coveted place in the semi-finals at stake.
The Three Lions come into the contest following a dramatic and exhausting 3-2 win over Mexico, a match in which they were forced to play with 10 men for part of the game. Meanwhile, Norway arrive buoyed by their 2-1 triumph over Brazil — a performance full of confidence and quality. But what do the historical encounters between these two sides reveal ahead of their crucial World Cup clash?
England and Norway have a limited but intriguing history, stretching back to their first meeting in 1937. That inaugural fixture, a friendly match, ended in a dominant 6-0 victory for England. Since then, the two nations have faced each other 12 times in total, though only four of those meetings have been competitive.
Across eight friendly matches, England have been the clear superior side, winning six and drawing two, while scoring an impressive 22 goals and conceding just twice. However, their competitive record paints a very different picture.
In their four competitive encounters, England have managed only one victory. Norway, by contrast, have claimed two wins — 2-1 in 1981 and 2-0 in 1993 — both during World Cup qualification campaigns. The 1981 fixture famously inspired the iconic Norwegian commentator’s line, “Your boys took a hell of a beating!”, directed at then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
England’s lone competitive victory over Norway came in 1980, a commanding 4-0 result. Since then, it has been 44 years without a competitive win for the Three Lions against their Scandinavian rivals. During that period, Norway have won twice and drawn once, with the most recent competitive meeting ending 1-1.
As Gareth Southgate’s side prepares to face Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami Stadium at 10pm BST, history may not be in England’s favour. However, recent form and the attacking prowess of players such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham could prove decisive. If England can channel the spirit of their friendly encounters, they may just overcome the weight of history and secure a place in the last four.
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