‘Norway: The Dark Horse’ (2026) Netflix Series Review - The Road to the 2026 World Cup

For many countries, qualifying for the World Cup is a distant dream. And for Norway, this was something they managed to achieve.  Norway: The Dark Horse is the story of the return of the Norway Men’s team after a painful 26-year absence to the 2026 World Cup. Directed by Emil Trier, the documentary is a story about expectation, disappointment, and achieving the national dream.

For decades, Norway was a country that watched tournaments from afar. Though the nation produced many talented players, the World Cup dream was always one slip away. Players such as Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard became show stoppers, yet qualification was still a dream. Through Norway: The Dark Horse, the documentary explores how that pressure shaped the players as well as the coaching staff for something bigger. We get a glimpse of dressing room moments, which offer us a detailed insight into what went on in their minds. We are also shown the team meetings and travel preparations. This makes us feel as if we are a part of the whole event rather than just being one. I also read somewhere that Netflix was granted behind-the-scenes entry throughout Norway’s campaign, which in return gives us a great documentary to watch.

The stars of Norway: The Dark Horse are Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard without a doubt. Both players have become global icons courtesy of their club career. However, in this, we are shown a different side of them. This time around, we explore their desire to do something for their national team. This was one of the most meaningful aspects of the plot. Alongside them, we get to see head coach Ståle Solbakken. He comes across as someone who is a strategist and an emotional leader. No team is successful without a good coach, and Ståle Solbakken proves the same to us. We see how he has an important role to play: to motivate a team that has undergone years of disappointment to play and win. And he, yes, fair to say, he has been doing a great job at it.

The only issues with Norway: The Dark Horse are that the pacing suffers heavily. In some places, things are fast, and in some places, things slow down to become really slow. So much so that it can disrupt the overall viewing experience. Additionally, some players don’t receive the required amount of attention as one expects them to. Another issue is that many of us aren’t very familiar with the Norwegian team the way we are with Brazilian and Spanish teams. So for many of us, watching this might require some prep.

If you are someone who can ignore all this, then Norway: The Dark Horse is a great watch for anyone who is a diehard football fan. Thankfully, Netflix has started creating documentaries on teams such as Norway, which raises awareness. This means that even if you aren’t a football fan, you will gain some really amazing knowledge about the FIFA World Cup and the country targeted.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times