Benfica star's father on son's World Cup spot: Absolutely fantastic | OneFootball

Since 2023, Fredrik Aursnes has not represented the Norway national team, after announcing his retirement for personal reasons. Three years later, Benfica’s number 8 is preparing his return, and straight into a World Cup — a competition his country has not played in for 28 years.

"It’s absolutely fantastic!" said Gunnar Aursnes, the father of the talented Benfica midfielder. "Few players have the chance to get there and experience that. It’s huge for him and for us, as parents," he told 'NRK'.

It should also be noted that Andreas Schjelderup will also be at the 2026 World Cup, after likewise being called up by Stale Solbakken. The Benfica winger heads into the tournament after a breakthrough season at the club, where he recorded 10 goals and 7 assists, securing his place in his first major international competition.

For Norway, this will be a highly anticipated appearance, marking the country’s return to the World Cup finals after nearly three decades away, in a squad featuring several stars of European and world football. The list also includes names such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.