Haaland’s Quest to Lead Norway to World Cup Glory

Erling Haaland shares a close yet competitive relationship with his father, Alfie, a former professional footballer. “He never pushed me, but he recognized my ambition to excel in football from an early age,” Haaland explained in an interview with Time magazine. “I once told him, ‘Hopefully I’ll become better than you.’ This has been a driving force for me since childhood, to earn a living through football and to surpass his achievements.”

It is evident that Erling’s career has already eclipsed that of Alfie, who did not win any major trophies during his two decades in professional football. In stark contrast, Erling has amassed nine titles, including the Champions League and Premier League, as well as two Golden Boots and the Player of the Season awards in both England and Germany. However, Alfie holds a distinction that Erling has yet to claim: participation in a World Cup.

Alfie was part of the Norway team that qualified for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. This adds a layer of significance to Erling’s ambition to reach next summer’s tournament, as he aspires to become the second member of his family to compete in the prestigious competition, and to do so in the same country as his father.

Norway last qualified for the World Cup in 1998, although Alfie did not make the squad that year. In the U.S., Norway narrowly missed the knockout stage, finishing on the same points as the other teams in their group but eliminated by a single goal. Yet, they enjoyed a memorable journey in France, where they advanced to the last 16 by defeating reigning champions Brazil.

Although Brazil had already secured their place as Group A winners, they fielded a star-studded lineup, including legends such as Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, and the world’s best player at that time, Ronaldo. Norway found themselves trailing in the 79th minute but mounted an incredible comeback in just five minutes, clinching a 2-1 victory with goals from Tore Andre Flo and a last-minute penalty from Kjetil Rekdal.

Though they were ultimately ousted 1-0 by Italy in the last 16, the triumph over Brazil remains a cherished memory for Norwegian football fans. Haaland acknowledges that simply qualifying for the World Cup would be a monumental achievement for the nation. “If we qualify, it would feel like a major nation winning it,” he remarked to Time. “The celebrations in Oslo would be unbelievable.”

Norway experienced a taste of that joy when they triumphed over Italy with a 3-0 victory in June. Despite relentless rain throughout the match, fans lingered in the Ullevaal Stadion long after the final whistle, celebrating their team in ponchos.

“People didn’t want to leave,” remarked coach Stale Solbakken. “The rain was pouring, but they were there long before and stayed long after the game.”

Solbakken, a member of the 1998 World Cup squad, aims to forge a new legacy for the current players, most of whom were born after 1998. He expressed frustration at the prolonged absence from major tournaments. “It’s been 25 years since we were in a major tournament, so it’s high time we make our return.”

However, Solbakken’s experience at the World Cup is not his greatest story. In 2000, while training with FC Copenhagen, he suffered a heart attack, leading to a near-fatal situation where his heart stopped for almost seven minutes. “He was clinically dead,” recounted the club doctor who revived him. “It’s a miracle that he is still alive.”

After retiring at 30, Solbakken transitioned into coaching, winning eight league titles with Copenhagen before becoming the Norwegian national coach in 2020. He now oversees an exciting generation of players led by Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, supported by a strong roster including Oscar Bobb, Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, Sander Berge, and Julian Ryerson.

“We now have players with an X-factor in offense, which gives us confidence that we can score anytime,” Solbakken stated. “Our defense has also become more solid. The squad has always had a good atmosphere, but there’s an added edge since we’ve been performing well.”

Haaland, whose talents are unmatched, is considered “easy to coach” by Solbakken. “He is very grounded and prioritizes team play, often celebrating his teammates’ goals just as much as his own. He understands that he’s a leader and takes care of his teammates exceptionally well. The others know he is our key player, so we must ensure he is positioned to score.”

Haaland’s commitment was evident during the match against Moldova in September, where he recognized the critical nature of goal difference for Norway’s qualification. He scored five goals and was determined to maximize every opportunity, quickly restarting the game after each goal to add more to his tally.

In their subsequent game against Israel, Haaland overcame an early setback with a missed penalty to score a hat trick and force an own goal. Meanwhile, Italy has struggled, only managing a 3-0 victory over Israel and a 3-1 win against Estonia. Facing Moldova presents Italy with a chance to improve their goal difference, but by the time they kick off, Norway may have already increased their own lead.

With a significant goal difference advantage and high expectations of defeating Estonia, Solbakken mentioned that many are already celebrating Norway’s impending World Cup qualification. The Norwegian Central Statistical Office estimates that Norway has a 99.9 percent chance of qualifying if they secure a victory against Estonia, even by a single goal.

Haaland is acutely aware of the importance of the upcoming matches and the opportunity to lead his nation to only their fourth World Cup. “The last World Cup was in 1998, two years before I was born. My goal has always been to take Norway to a World Cup and the Euros. Now, I have a genuine chance to accomplish that, so I must seize the opportunity.”

A historic moment for his nation, and for his family, is within Haaland’s reach.