Erling Haaland, one of the brightest stars in world football, has offered a candid assessment of his country Norway’s chances — as well as those of the United States — of winning a FIFA World Cup. Speaking to Time, the Manchester City striker gave a tongue-in-cheek but revealing answer that reflects both ambition and realism.The 24-year-old Norwegian admitted that the prospect of Norway winning the tournament feels like a distant dream: “Norway has never won the World Cup. If we ever get there, it will be like another great nation winning. It will be the biggest party in history. What will happen in Oslo will be just crazy.”
Despite his enthusiasm about the celebrations such a victory would bring, he rated Norway’s chances at just 0.5%. Turning to the United States, Haaland allowed them slightly better odds: “I don’t want to be the one who says, ‘The US will never win the World Cup,’ and then they actually win it. So I’ll give them a 1% chance.” The comment was half-joking, but it highlights how far both nations still have to go to reach football’s ultimate prize.
Norway has never qualified beyond the Round of 16 in the World Cup, and their last appearance was in 1998. Despite producing global stars like Ole Gunnar Solskjær, John Arne Riise, and now Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, the national team has struggled to qualify consistently for major tournaments. Key issues include: Population size: Just over 5 million people, limiting the player pool. Competitive balance: Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Denmark have historically fared better. Recent progress: With Haaland and Ødegaard as leaders, Norway has arguably its strongest generation in decades, but depth remains a challenge.
If Norway were to win the World Cup, as Haaland suggests, it would indeed spark unprecedented celebrations, comparable to Denmark’s Euro 1992 triumph.The United States has made steady progress in football development: Hosted the 1994 World Cup, sparking grassroots growth. Will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
Has invested heavily in youth academies, MLS infrastructure, and player development. In recent years, the U.S. has produced top talents playing in Europe’s best leagues: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) Weston McKennie (Juventus) Giovanni Reyna (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Dortmund) Yunus Musah (AC Milan) Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven) Still, their best World Cup performance remains the quarterfinals in 2002, and they face the challenge of competing with traditional powerhouses from Europe and South America.
Haaland’s 1% chance might sound harsh, but it reflects the reality that infrastructure and enthusiasm alone do not guarantee World Cup glory.Norway: Small country, few appearances, two global stars (Haaland & Ødegaard) who can inspire but limited squad depth. USA: Large country, massive resources, fast-growing player pool, but still lacking experience in going deep in international tournaments. Interestingly, the U.S. may have a slightly better chance in the short term, especially as hosts of the 2026 World Cup, where home advantage could inspire a historic run.The reigning champions are Argentina, who lifted the trophy in Qatar 2022 under Lionel Messi’s leadership. For countries like Norway and the U.S., bridging the gap with giants like Argentina, Brazil, Germany, France, and Spain remains the ultimate challenge.
Erling Haaland’s assessment was partly playful, but it captured a fundamental truth: both Norway and the United States remain outsiders on the world stage. For Norway, even qualifying regularly would be a major step forward, but with Haaland and Ødegaard, they possess two world-class leaders capable of inspiring belief.
For the USA, co-hosting in 2026 offers a golden opportunity to announce themselves as true contenders, even if winning remains unlikely. Haaland’s humor aside, both nations symbolize football’s global growth. And if either ever lifted the World Cup, the celebrations — in Oslo or across America — would indeed be unforgettable.
