Ståle Solbakken
Head Coach, Norwegian National Football Team
'Inside Norway’s World Cup Team: Building a Culture That Performs Under Pressure'
In 2026, Ståle Solbakken led Norway to its first World Cup quarterfinal, after a qualification campaign of eight straight wins and a historic victory over Brazil.
But the story behind the results started years earlier.
Solbakken took charge of the Norwegian national team in 2020 with a clear idea of the culture he wanted to build. The results didn’t always follow. Expectations grew. Criticism intensified. At times, his position was openly questioned.
Inside the team, however, the belief remained.
Over time, Solbakken and his staff built a culture around clear standards, shared responsibility and trust, turning a squad of global stars and domestic-league players into a team capable of performing when the pressure was at its highest.
At Oslo Business Forum, Solbakken takes us inside Norway’s World Cup journey.
How do you build belief before the results arrive?
How do you lead world-class individuals while putting the team first?
How do you make difficult decisions when millions have an opinion?
And how do you create a culture that holds when everything is on the line?
This is the leadership story behind Norway’s World Cup success. Told by the man at the center of it.
But the story behind the results started years earlier.
Solbakken took charge of the Norwegian national team in 2020 with a clear idea of the culture he wanted to build. The results didn’t always follow. Expectations grew. Criticism intensified. At times, his position was openly questioned.
Inside the team, however, the belief remained.
Over time, Solbakken and his staff built a culture around clear standards, shared responsibility and trust, turning a squad of global stars and domestic-league players into a team capable of performing when the pressure was at its highest.
At Oslo Business Forum, Solbakken takes us inside Norway’s World Cup journey.
How do you build belief before the results arrive?
How do you lead world-class individuals while putting the team first?
How do you make difficult decisions when millions have an opinion?
And how do you create a culture that holds when everything is on the line?
This is the leadership story behind Norway’s World Cup success. Told by the man at the center of it.
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