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Extraordinary goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a chance to play in his premier global event in the upcoming season, thanks to his efforts with Norway to the World Cup.

Furthermore, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker achieved it with outstanding performance, netting 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - finding the back of the net consistently in every one of those games.

That makes him the leading goalscorer in 2026 World Cup preliminary stage in all continents.

And his squad's 4-1 win against Italy on Sunday, featuring a Haaland brace, ensures they will competing in next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Haaland, speaking afterwards: "I'm happy, but mostly relieved. There's considerable expectation and stuff, and I feel it. But it's fun."

It will be merely their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since the 2000 European Championship.

What Significance Did Haaland Play?

The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is truly extraordinary.

He has hit 55 goals in 48 matches for Norway.

Furthermore he is just the sixth footballer ever, and the initial one in over five decades, to net 50 strikes in less than 50 appearances.

Norway's previous highest scorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who kept that distinction for nine decades.

During these qualifying matches he netted 16 strikes - in eight games - plus two assists.

This represents twice the scoring total any competitor has netted in UEFA matches.

He is the leading goalscorer in these qualifiers in any continent, including areas where national sides participate double the matches.

Beyond a full year has passed since Haaland most recently didn't net in a game for Norway.

Team Effort Beyond Haaland

But it is not just a one-man show.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than any competitor in European preliminary matches - seven setups.

The London club's midfielder has played 67 times for Norway since his first appearance at the age of 15.

"Combine Haaland's success with the fact that in this period we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," stated a Norwegian journalist.

Norway is a nation of five million inhabitants and we possess both the top forward and I would argue the premier midfielder, certainly one of the best playmakers, in the English top flight.

Historical Relevance of Qualification

Initially in many years Norway supporters will enjoy the excitement of backing their team at an international tournament.

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

His father, Alf Inge, participated in the 1994 competition.

The striker has mentioned before surpassing his father was a major professional goal for him.

"Norway will cannot win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to a global media outlet in recent months.

Escaping Historical Oversight

Haaland's participation in the global tournament with Norway guarantees he dodges his name going on the collection of iconic athletes who missed World Cup action.

Three Ballon d'Or winners couldn't manage to participate in the global tournament.

The Liberian legend, who secured titles with various top teams, represented Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.

Famous United forward the footballing genius, viewed by plenty as a true legend of the game, was a Northern Irish representative during the sixties and seventies when they did not qualify.

Los Blancos icon the Argentine-Spanish star featured for three national teams - Spain, Argentina and Colombia - but never got to a World Cup with either country.