In-form striker Erling Haaland is on his way back to Manchester City after the Norwegian Football Association announced he has been released from international duty. Fresh from scoring a hat-trick to help his country take a major step towards qualifying for next summer's World Cup, the 25-year-old will not feature when Stale Solbakken’s men take on New Zealand in an international friendly.
Haaland's hat-trick puts Norway on brink of 2026 World Cup
Haaland carried his remarkable club form with City onto the international stage as he played a starring role in Norway’s 5-0 victory over Israel on Saturday. The forward scored a hat-trick to put his nation on the brink of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998, having also been denied twice from the penalty spot by goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. It was the 10th game in a row for club and country in which Haaland has scored, having found the net in all but one of his 12 appearances for City and Norway in 2025-26.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportCity striker is currently the Premier League's top goalscorer
Haaland has also been in excellent goalscoring form for City this term. The former Borussia Dortmund man has scored 12 goals in nine games for Pep Guardiola’s side, with nine of them coming in the Premier League. He is currently the leading goalscorer in the English top flight – three ahead of second-placed Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who has netted six times.
Norwegian FA issue statement saying Haaland has been released
However, Haaland will play no part in Norway’s international friendly with New Zealand on Tuesday, 14 October after being released earlier than expected. The Norwegian FA said in a statement: "Sebastian Sebulonsen is in the Norwegian national team squad, he and Sverre Nypan are participating in today's training.
"Players with particularly tight match schedules are returning home: Alexander Sorloth, Julian Ryerson, Erling Braut Haaland and Fredrik Bjorkan. Felix Horn Myhre is leaving the squad due to a sore ankle.”
The news comes as a boost to City as they look to Haaland to maintain their fine form when the Premier League returns next weekend. Guardiola’s side are currently unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions, securing league victories over Manchester United, Burnley and Brentford. City also took four points from their first two Champions League games after defeating Napoli before drawing with Monaco.
Ex-Dortmund man credits birth of his son as giving him extra motivation
When asked to put his finger on why he has been in such strong goalscoring form in 2025-26, Haaland credited the birth of his son as giving him extra motivation on the pitch. Asked if he is currently in the best form of his career following City’s win over Brentford, Haaland told “You can say so, I’ve never felt better than I do now. I think it’s about preparation first of all, getting ready for the games and I spoke so many times about it before, you can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready as well.
“To be honest with a kid I think it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever, I don’t think about football at all. Sometimes when you’re younger you think of this and that and maybe worry a little bit about things. But now when I go home I relax even more so I think I need to give a shout out to my son.”
