🔗 Share this article

Extraordinary marksman Erling Haaland will get a crack at his premier global event this coming summer, following his guidance Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Premier League striker did it in outstanding performance, netting 16 goals in eight World Cup preliminary games - finding the back of the net consistently in all those encounters.

This establishes him as the highest scorer in 2026 World Cup qualifying in any continent.

And his country's 4-1 win against Italy on Sunday, with Haaland netting two goals, means they will be participating in next summer's World Cup in the American continent.

The striker commented afterwards: "I'm happy, but primarily relieved. There's significant pressure and factors, and I feel it. But it's enjoyable."

This represents just their fourth World Cup, and their premier global event since the 2000 Euros.

The Crucial Role Has Haaland Been?

The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is nothing short of phenomenal.

He has registered 55 goals in 48 matches for the national team.

Furthermore he is just the sixth footballer ever, and the premier in half a century, to score 50 goals in fewer than 50 caps.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who held that record for almost a century.

In these qualifiers he registered 16 finishes - in eight encounters - plus two goal contributions.

This amounts to double the goals tally any other player has scored in Europe.

He remains the highest scorer in these preliminary games in any continent, including areas where teams play twice as more games.

Over a year has passed since Haaland most recently didn't net in a match for his country.

Squad Contribution Alongside Haaland

However, it's not only about Haaland.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than anyone else in European qualifying - seven assists.

The Gunners playmaker has played 67 times for Norway since his first appearance at the tender age of fifteen.

"Combine Haaland's success with the fact that in this era we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," stated a football expert.

We're a country of five million people and we have both the top forward and I would argue the top creator, definitely among the best playmakers, in the English top flight.

Historical Relevance of Qualification

Initially in decades Norway followers will witness the excitement of backing their national side in worldwide event.

The Scandinavian country participated in the World Cups in 1998, 1994 and 1938, and the 2000 Euros.

Haaland's father, Alf Inge Haaland, featured in the 1994 tournament.

Haaland has earlier stated surpassing his dad represented a significant personal target for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," Haaland Jr told an international magazine earlier this year.

Dodging Historical Exclusion

Haaland's participation in next summer's World Cup with Norway ensures he escapes his inclusion on the collection of iconic athletes who missed World Cup action.

Three Ballon d'Or winners never managed to reach a World Cup.

George Weah, who claimed championships with Monaco, PSG, AC Milan and Chelsea, played for Liberia - who haven't qualified for a World Cup.

Famous United forward the Northern Irish star, considered by many as a true legend of the game, was a Northern Ireland international during the mid-century period when they did not qualify.

Madrid superstar Alfredo di Stefano represented three countries - Colombia, Spain and Argentina - but couldn't reach a World Cup with any national team.