It’s been 26 years since Norway certified for the World Cup, with their last-16 defeat to Italy in 1998 the final match that the nation has performed within the match.
Failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup made it six tournaments on the bounce by which the Norwegians got here up brief, when even Erling Haaland’s 5 objectives within the qualification marketing campaign had been unable to fireplace them to Qatar.
Whereas the Manchester Metropolis man is just 24 years previous, he can be keenly conscious that he’s beginning to function in these ‘finest participant by no means to play in a World Cup’ conversations that we’ve all had within the pub. So how shut are Norway to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup that can be performed within the USA, Canada and Mexico? FourFourTwo takes a more in-depth look…
VIDEO Why Lee Carsley Would possibly Repair England
How does qualification for the 2026 World Cup work?
The beginning of the Nations League within the present worldwide break has marked the start of the World Cup qualification cycle. Which means that qualifying for the World Cup isn’t so simple as it was once, whereas the enlargement to 48 groups has additionally moved the goalposts considerably.
UEFA may have 16 spots on the 2026 World Cup, a rise of three groups, which clearly boosts Norway’s hopes of qualifying.
The European qualification course of will see 12 teams of 4 or 5 groups draw collectively later this 12 months (the date continues to be to be confirmed), who will then play one another residence and away, with the 12 group winners reserving their place within the match.
A second section of qualifying for the remaining 4 spots sees 16 groups (made up of the 12 group runners-up, plus the 4 finest Nations League group winners based mostly on the Nations League total rating that completed exterior of the highest two of their World Cup qualification group) drawn into 4 paths, which can see two rounds of single-match play-offs, with the 4 path winners qualifying for the World Cup.
How shut are Norway to qualifying for the World Cup?
Martin Odegaard could lead on his nation to a World Cup (Picture credit score: Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Photos)
By way of the place this leaves Norway, Stale Solbakken’s facet are presently two matches into their Nations League marketing campaign, understanding that if they will high their group, it should give them a second likelihood when the World Cup qualifcation marketing campaign begins in earnest subsequent March.
Haaland scored an eightieth minute winner towards Austria on Monday night, to maneuver the group onto 4 factors following their attract Kazakhstan on Friday evening. Meaning Norway second, degree on factors with leaders Slovenia in League B Group 3.
So who’re the most effective gamers by no means to play in a World Cup?
George Greatest in motion for Northern Eire towards England in 1971 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Since we talked about it earlier, it’s value revisiting that age-old debate.
Regardless of representing each Argentina and Spain, Alfredo Di Stefano by no means made it to the World Cup because of a mix of participant strikes, failure to qualify and harm. George Greatest and Ryan Giggs are the most important British names by no means to function, whereas George Weah, the primary African participant to win the Ballon d’Or by no means made it with Liberia. Eric Cantona is one other noticeable absentee,
Going additional again, Sweden’s Gunnar Nordahl by no means featured, Italy’s Valentino Mazzola who was tragically killed on the age of 30 within the Superga air catastrophe by no means graced the match, whereas Laszlo Kubala performed for Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Spain (the principles on switching allegiances had been rather a lot much less strict again then), however by no means obtained the possibility at a World Cup.
Extra World Cup tales
Actual Madrid star Vinicius Jr says Spain needs to be STRIPPED of World Cup 2030 internet hosting rights
Why Brazil’s droop is threatening their World Cup qualification
One of the best gamers by no means to play on the World Cup
