How Norway produced the Haaland generation 🇳🇴 | OneFootball

Norway, a nation traditionally associated with winter sports (shout-out to Lucas Braathen), is experiencing a magical moment on the football pitch.

For the first time playing in the quarterfinals of a FIFA World Cup — right after sending the Brazilian national team home — the Scandinavian side is proving that the success of stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard did not come out of nowhere.

In a report this Saturday (11), ge detailed that this World Cup success is the result of a structural revolution that has led to 93% of children in Norway currently taking part in a youth team.

'Haaland effect'

The rise of Norwegian football is directly tied to the modernization of its infrastructure.

In a country that deals with harsh cold and snow, the construction of more than 500 artificial turf fields since 2016 has helped democratize access to the sport all year round.

It was on one of these covered pitches, in the small town of Bryne, that Haaland began taking his first shots.

Today, the Manchester City striker is the face of a cultural phenomenon. The leading symbol of a golden generation that also includes Odegaard, Nusa and Ryerson, Haaland helped boost football participation among young people and restored the pride of fans who had not seen the country at a World Cup in 28 years.

The streets of Oslo were taken over by giant screens, euphoric celebrations and the iconic "Viking row," which went viral on social media around the world.

The model

Norway’s main difference from other football powers is its refusal to create "high-performance machines" from early childhood.

The country’s sports system is based on the "Rights of the Child in Sports," a document with guiding principles:

Guaranteed access to sports regardless of the family’s financial situation.

A focus on fun, solidarity and friendship, avoiding early specialization.

Safe environments and coaches instructed to listen to young people’s opinions.

Total freedom for children to choose whether and how many different sports they want to play.

The formula has been a resounding success: currently, 93% of Norwegian children take part in youth teams.

This encouragement makes the country a global leader in per capita sports participation and promotes major events such as the Norway Cup, the largest youth football competition on the planet.

Established success

Norway’s approach has brought historic achievements in both the men’s and women’s games:

Women’s Football: The national team is an established force, boasting the 1995 World Cup title and producing athletes who reached the top, such as Ada Hegerberg (Ballon d'Or in 2018).

Men’s Football: Haaland’s team (the second-highest scorers in this World Cup with seven goals) surpassed the historic 1998 campaign and is now preparing for a heavyweight clash against England in Miami for a place in the semifinals.

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

📸 TIMOTHY A. CLARY - AFP or licensors