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Extraordinary goalgetter Erling Haaland earns an opportunity in his first major tournament next summer, thanks to his efforts with Norway to the World Cup.

Furthermore, the 25-year-old Premier League striker accomplished it through remarkable fashion, 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 qualification in every region.

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

The striker commented post-game: "I'm pleased, but mostly relieved. There's a lot of pressure and stuff, and I experience 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 Has Haaland Been?

Haaland's goalscoring record for Norway is nothing short of phenomenal.

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

And in fact he is only the sixth player ever, and the first in 53 years, to register 50 finishes in less than 50 appearances.

The nation's former top scorer was 33-goal Jorgen Juve, who maintained that achievement for nine decades.

Throughout these preliminary games he scored 16 goals - in eight matches - plus two goal contributions.

This amounts to double the goal count any other player has netted in UEFA matches.

He remains the top scorer in these qualifying matches in all continents, including ones where national sides participate twice the number of encounters.

Over a year has gone by since Haaland most recently didn't net in a match for his country.

Collective Performance Complementing Haaland

Yet it isn't solely about one player.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has more assists than any competitor in UEFA qualification - seven setups.

The Arsenal midfielder has made 67 appearances for Norway since making his debut at the young age of 15.

"Merge Haaland's accomplishments with the reality that in this period we furthermore feature Martin Odegaard," said an analyst.

We're a country of five million inhabitants and we feature both the premier attacker and I'd propose the top creator, certainly one of the top creators, in the EPL.

Historical Importance of Successful Qualification

For the first time in many years Norway supporters will enjoy the pleasure of cheering their team at an international tournament.

Norway competed in the World Cups in 1994, 1998 and 1938, and Euro 2000.

His father, Alf Inge Haaland, featured in the 1994 World Cup.

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

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

Avoiding Historical Exclusion

Haaland heading to next summer's World Cup with Norway means he avoids his addition to the collection of iconic athletes who didn't participate in the tournament.

Three golden ball recipients couldn't manage to reach a World Cup.

George Weah, who claimed championships with multiple European clubs, represented Liberia - who have never reached a World Cup.

Iconic Manchester United winger the footballing genius, considered by many as among the best ever, was a Northern Ireland international during the sixties and seventies when they couldn't secure qualification.

Los Blancos icon the Argentine-Spanish star represented three countries - Colombia, Spain and Argentina - but never got to a World Cup with any of them.