Will we get an opportunity to see Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in motion in Qatar?
It’s the query on each informal soccer fan’s lips after seeing Erling Haaland destroying defences left, proper and centre following his transfer to Manchester City earlier this yr: Will his Norway be at the World Cup?
The World Cup is in any case the competitors the place the greatest gamers in the world battle it out amongst one another to carry the coveted trophy.
Unfortunately, it isn’t fairly that straightforward.
Only 32 nations have certified for the showpiece in Qatar this November and December and that implies that a few of the smaller nations miss out.
And when these so-called smaller nations have some high-profile gamers in their ranks, the world will get disadvantaged of these superstars.
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In this case, Norway didn’t qualify for the World Cup 2022 after solely managing to complete third in their qualification group behind Netherlands and Turkey.
Which in turns means we will be unable to see Haaland banging in the targets in Qatar, whereas Arsenal’s gifted playmaker Martin Odegaard will even reluctantly be having fun with a little bit of a break.
So ought to we simply neglect about ever seeing Haaland and Odegaard taking part in at a World Cup then?
Well, no, not fairly.
The Norwegians did qualify for the match in 1994 and 1998 and the presence of the aforementioned duo may very properly spark one other participation in the close to future, notably with the ongoing World Cup enlargement plans.
The 2026 version of the World Cup can have 48 groups there, together with 16 European groups. That means there are three extra spots to play for throughout the qualification course of.
Norway will nonetheless have their work reduce out for them as they’re at present the Twenty second-ranked group on Fifa’s World Ranking, however soccer is and stays an unpredictable recreation!
