British media: Arsenal approved Odegaard to go to the national team and watch Norway s key qualifying match live

 5:56pm, 11 October 2025
The World Cup qualifying match against Israel will be held in Oslo early tomorrow morning.

Solbakken said: "He came here to watch part of the training and had a pleasant lunch with the players. Odegaard is an important member of us, and even if he cannot play, he is still our captain."

"Of course we hope he can be on the court, but he is also an excellent person off the court He is a good partner who can talk about football and any other topic. He is a reassuring presence for the team."

Neither Arsenal nor the Norwegian team have announced a clear timetable for Odegaard's return, but the move to be allowed to return to Norway is regarded as a positive sign by sources in the Norwegian national team.

When asked whether Odegaard would enter the dressing room before the game against Israel, Solbakken added: "We have not reached an agreement on this. He will come to watch the game, but the specific level of participation has not yet been agreed, but he will definitely be there."

RB Leipzig forward Nousa met with Odegaard this week He told the Norwegian media: "I met Ødegaard yesterday and had a great conversation with him. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope everything goes well."

The Norwegian team has only qualified for the World Cup finals three times in history, the most recent time dating back to 1998, and they have only participated in the European Cup once (2000). However, under the leadership of Odegaard and Haaland, Norway is close to achieving a historic breakthrough. They have maintained victory in the first five World Cup qualifying games and are currently 6 points ahead of Italy, which has one game less.

The two teams will face off in Milan next month, and Norway has scored 24 goals in the world preliminaries, averaging nearly 5 goals per game, and is in very hot form.