The accumulation of top players from the five major leagues has transformed Norway, achieving six consecutive wins in the World Cup qualifiers and surpassing Italy to secure a spot in the World Cup.

In the 7th round of the European World Cup qualifiers Group I, Norway crushed Israel 5-0 on their home ground. Haaland missed two penalty kicks but still managed to deliver back-to-back hat-tricks, netting 8 goals across two qualifiers, which greatly challenges Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as the top World Cup qualifier scorer.

Although Italy won 3-1 away against Estonia, the four-time champions still trail Norway by 6 points with one game less played. This means Norway has effectively secured the top spot in Group I, guaranteeing direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the group runner-up must enter the playoffs. Norway has scored an astonishing 29 goals and conceded only 3 in 6 qualifiers; in contrast, Italy has scored 15 but conceded 8 in 5 matches. This clearly shows that Norway’s national team currently outperforms Italy’s. After missing the 2024 European Championship, Haaland-led Norway is finally set to compete in a major tournament next year.

Why has Norwegian football undergone such a transformation? It is because the team is filled with players from the top five European leagues, which has dramatically boosted their strength. For example, Norway’s starting lineup in the 5-0 win over Israel (in a 4-4-2 formation) was entirely composed of players from these top leagues.Up front are Premier League star Haaland and Atlético Madrid’s forward Sørloth. The midfield features Manchester City’s Bård, Fulham’s Berg, Bodø’s shining Patrick Berg, and Leipzig’s Nusa. The defense includes Dortmund’s Larsen, Brentford’s Ajer, Bologna’s Heggheim, and Wolves’ Wolfe, with Sevilla’s Nilsen as goalkeeper. This starting eleven is valued at an impressive €344 million.The only player not from a top-five league is Patrick Berg, who replaced the injured Arsenal captain Ødegaard. This means Norway’s national team’s main lineup is entirely composed of players from the five major leagues. It is this concentration of top-league talent that has revolutionized Norwegian football, allowing them to dominate Italy in the qualifiers and firmly secure the Group I top spot. The 2026 World Cup ticket is now a certainty for Norway’s national team.

In summary: Football success relies on quality players, led by superstars with emerging young talents. Norway’s football rise is unstoppable!