Source:REUTERS/Claudia Greco
[Saba Sports News] In the just-concluded World Cup qualifier, Norway defeated Italy 4-1, securing the top spot in their group and marking their return to the World Cup after 28 years. Norway’s qualification injects super high topicality into the 2026 World Cup. Erling Haaland, a top football superstar who has never appeared on the World Cup stage before, will undoubtedly attract global fan attention with his debut, becoming a core growth point for the tournament’s commercial value. If he can lead the team to advance further in the World Cup, his chances for the Ballon d’Or will also significantly increase. The author believes that Norway’s qualification is no accident but the inevitable result of years of football development in Norway, nurturing a golden generation centered around Haaland and Martin Odegaard. Haaland demonstrated his hard power by scoring 16 goals in 8 qualifying matches, firmly placing him at the top of the national team’s all-time scoring chart.