Haaland leads Norway to the brink of World Cup glory

November 13, 2025 Oliver Obel

According to UEFA match reports, Haaland tops all scorers in European qualifying with 12 goals in six matches, five more than his closest rival, Memphis Depay. Norway’s campaign for the 2026 World Cup — to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — has been built around his extraordinary output.

His latest hat-trick, in a 5-0 win over Israel, followed a five-goal, two-assist masterclass in an 11-1 demolition of Moldova. Those results pushed Norway to six wins from six, three points clear of Italy, and with a 16-goal cushion on goal difference.

Two fixtures remain — Thursday’s home match against Estonia and Sunday’s decisive trip to Milan to face Italy. Estonia, who have lost five of seven qualifiers, appear unlikely to stop them. As Norway captain Martin Ødegaard (currently sidelined) told BBC Sport, “We can almost touch it, but almost isn’t enough.”

Family rivalry, shared dream

Haaland’s motivation runs deeper than medals. His father, Alfie Haaland, a former Premier League midfielder, represented Norway at the 1994 World Cup — also in the United States.

“He never pushed me to anything, but he knew early that I wanted to become good at football,” Haaland told Time magazine. “I said a long time ago, ‘Hopefully I’ll become better than you.’ That’s been a motivation for me ever since I was young.”

While Alfie’s career brought no major trophies, Erling has already lifted nine, including the Champions League and two Premier League titles, along with Golden Boots in England and Germany. But one dream still binds father and son — walking out at a World Cup.

A nation that still remembers

The last time Norway made it to a World Cup was 1998, when they stunned reigning champions Brazil 2-1 in Marseille. That night, goals from Tore André Flo and Kjetil Rekdal sent the country into delirium.

Though they fell to Italy in the round of 16, the win over Brazil remains a national touchstone. In Oslo cafés this week, screens replayed that match as fans imagined history repeating.

“If we would qualify for the World Cup, it would be like another big nation winning it,” Haaland said recently. “It would be the biggest party ever. Scenes in Oslo would be incredible.”

Solbakken’s second chance

Head coach Ståle Solbakken, a midfielder in that 1998 squad, has guided the team through revival and reflection. Norway’s 3-0 win over Italy in June — played in torrential rain — left fans singing long after full-time.

“People didn’t want to go home,” Solbakken recalled. “The rain was pouring, but they were there long before the game and long after.”

Still, he’s eager to move beyond nostalgia. “We’re sick and tired of talking about 1998,” he said. “It’s been 25 years since we’ve been in a major tournament. It’s about time.”

His story gives this campaign extra poignancy. In 2000, while training with FC Copenhagen, Solbakken suffered a cardiac arrest that stopped his heart for nearly seven minutes. “He was clinically dead,” the club doctor said. “It is a miracle he is still alive.”

Now, two and a half decades later, he’s leading Norway back toward the global stage he once graced.

Building a golden generation

After his recovery, Solbakken went on to claim eight league titles with Copenhagen before taking over Norway’s national side in 2020. Today, he commands what many call a golden generation: Haaland, Ødegaard, Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, Sander Berge, and Julian Ryerson.

“Offensively, we have players with some X-factor now,” Solbakken told reporters. “We feel we can always score a goal.”

He also praised Haaland’s leadership. “He’s very down-to-earth,” he said. “He thinks about the team before himself. The others know he’s our biggest match-winner — we just need to put him in the right areas.”

Analysts say Solbakken has paired Norway’s traditional defensive discipline with Haaland’s attacking dynamism, creating a side that can overpower opponents rather than outlast them.

Relentless and ruthless

That mindset was clear in the 11-1 rout of Moldova. A source close to Haaland told Reuters that before kickoff, he had reminded teammates about the importance of goal difference — urging them to “keep scoring, no matter the scoreline.”

He responded by scoring five and racing back to restart play after each goal, setting the tempo for the team’s relentless approach. Against Israel, he missed two early penalties but responded with another hat-trick and even forced an own goal.

Italy, by contrast, have lacked that edge, managing only modest wins over Estonia and Israel. By the time they face Moldova, Norway may already have made qualification mathematically certain.

One step from history

According to Norway’s Central Statistical Office, the team has a 99.9% chance of qualifying if they beat Estonia — even by a single goal.

For Haaland, it would be more than a sporting milestone. “The last World Cup was in 1998, two years before I was born,” he said. “My goal is to take Norway to a World Cup and a Euros. This is the main goal in my career — and now I finally have the chance.”

Children in Oslo have started wearing Norway shirts with Haaland’s name to school again. Flags hang from balconies. The mood feels electric — cautious, but hopeful.

If they finish the job, Norway won’t just return to the World Cup. They’ll complete a family circle, revive a nation’s pride, and confirm that their unstoppable striker has carried them from memory to history.

Sources: Reuters, BBC Sport, AFP, UEFA, Time Magazine