Martin Odegaard injury latest from Norway manager | OneFootball

Stale Solbakken has confirmed that Norway won’t call up Martin Odegaard for the November international break, but they’d like him to attend their games if possible.

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Martin Odegaard remains out of action for Arsenal at the moment due to injury, with the hope that he’ll be fit again when the team return from the international break with a match at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

There’s certainly no prospect of the midfielder returning before Saturday’s game against Sunderland, as emphasised by the fact that Norway boss Stale Solbakken has already confirmed he’ll miss the November internationals next week.

“I talk to Martin regularly,” Solbakken explained. “He is doing well and things are going as they should, but he is not here.

“It’s an injury. You have to call Arsenal about that. He’s well on his way in his rehab, but when he’ll be ready, neither he, Arsenal, nor we know, as of now.”

Photo via Odegaard on Instagram

Odegaard was also out injured in October, but he attended Norway’s game against Israel all the same. When asked if his team captain could do the same this time around, Solbakken suggested that’s what the player would want.

“We haven’t discussed it much, but Martin probably has a strong desire to be in the group,” Solbakken said. “And then we’ll see what we can agree on there.

“He still has rehab, which is the most, most important thing, that he gets on the field as soon as possible. Then we’ll see how it fits in. We’re not the ones who have control over him, Arsenal are.”

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

This will be a big break for Norway, as they face Estonia and Italy in the final two group games of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. A win over Estonia would all but confirm qualification, as Norway’s goal difference is far superior to Italy’s.

But if Italy win against Moldova, top spot and automatic qualification won’t be mathematically confirmed until after the game between Italy and Norway on November 16th.

The runner-up from the group will play a play-off for one final chance at qualification.