Solbakken Hints at Norway Exit After 2026 World Cup
Stale Solbakken, the current manager of the Norway national football team, has indicated his intention to step down from his role after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite having a talented squad featuring players like Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, Solbakken has been unable to guide Norway to a major tournament since taking over in 2020.
Norway finished third in their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group, six points behind Scotland, having won just three of their eight games.
With the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico set to take place in 2026, Solbakken is focused on playing on the world stage for the first time since France 1998, but says his time with the national team will not extend beyond that period. if they qualify.
“I’ll take this qualification now and then there’s a high probability that I’ll do something else after that regardless,” he told reporters on Monday, adding he will remain in charge if Norway qualify for the World Cup and step down after the finals.
“While I’m still young and virile, I want to do something else too – I’ve said no to a number of club jobs that really tempted me, but I’m determined to make one last attempt here, and then I think that’s it.
“I really enjoy being with the boys, but there are far too few [international] matches. The last seven or eight months have been a nightmare with four friendly games, and the last two leading into the boys’ summer holidays.”
Solbakken was part of Norway’s 1998 squad that reached the last 16, and at Euro 2000 in the Netherlands and Belgium, which was Norway’s last appearance at a major finals as they failed to get out of the group.
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup begins in either March or June 2025, depending on the upcoming Nations League results, with Norway opening their League B Group 3 campaign against Kazakhstan on Friday.
