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Generational striker Erling Haaland will get a chance to play in his first major tournament in the upcoming season, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Manchester City striker did it in outstanding performance, netting 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifiers - finding the back of the net consistently in every one of those games.

This establishes him as the highest scorer in 2026 World Cup preliminary stage in every region.

Moreover, his national team's 4-1 win in Italy on Sunday, featuring a Haaland brace, guarantees they'll be playing in next summer's World Cup in the American continent.

The striker commented post-game: "I'm pleased, but primarily relieved. There's considerable expectation and factors, and I feel it. But it's fun."

This represents only their fourth World Cup, and their first major tournament since the 2000 European Championship.

The Crucial Role Did Haaland Play?

The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is nothing short of phenomenal.

He has scored 55 goals in 48 matches for the national team.

Additionally he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the premier in half a century, to register 50 finishes in under 50 international games.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was 33-goal Jorgen Juve, who held that record for nine decades.

Throughout these preliminary games he registered 16 finishes - in eight matches - plus two setup passes.

That is double the goal count any competitor has registered in European qualifying.

He is the top scorer in these preliminary games in any continent, including areas where national sides participate twice as more games.

Over a year has passed since Haaland previously didn't score in a international appearance.

Collective Performance Complementing Haaland

Yet it isn't only about Haaland.

Skipper Martin Odegaard, 26, has more assists than any other player in European preliminary matches - seven.

The Gunners playmaker has played 67 times for Norway since making his debut at the young age of 15.

"Pair Haaland's achievements with the reality that in this generation we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," stated a football expert.

We're a country of five million people and we have both the best striker and I'd propose the best playmaker, certainly one of the best playmakers, in the Premier League.

Historical Importance of Successful Qualification

For the premier occasion in many years Norway followers will witness the pleasure of cheering their team at an international tournament.

The Scandinavian country competed in the World Cups in 1938, 1994 and 1998, and the 2000 European Championship.

His father, Alf Inge, played at the 1994 competition.

Haaland has earlier stated surpassing his father was a big career ambition for him.

"Norway will cannot win the World Cup," Haaland stated to a major publication recently.

Avoiding Historical Oversight

Haaland's participation in next summer's World Cup with Norway means he avoids his inclusion on the list of great players who missed World Cup action.

Three Ballon d'Or winners couldn't manage to qualify for the World Cup.

The Liberian legend, who won trophies with multiple European clubs, represented Liberia - who have never reached a World Cup.

Famous United forward the footballing genius, considered by many as among the best ever, was a Ulster footballer during the mid-century period when they failed to qualify.

Madrid superstar the Argentine-Spanish star played for three nations - Colombia, Spain and Argentina - but didn't make it to a World Cup with any of them.