Norway Battles Flu Ahead of England Clash in 2026 World Cup Quarterfinal

The Norway national football team is confronting an influenza outbreak within its training camp ahead of the anticipated quarterfinal match against England scheduled for Saturday in the 2026 World Cup.

Two players from the Scandinavian squad contracted the illness during the team's progression toward reaching the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the first time, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph.

Norway's head coach, Ståle Solbakken, confirmed that symptoms such as coughing and hoarseness have been continuously spreading among the traveling delegation, which includes over 50 individuals comprising players and administrative and technical staff.

Crystal Palace striker Jørgen Strand Larsen missed Norway's opening World Cup match due to illness, while defender Markus Holmgren Pedersen was absent from the round of 16 match, where Norway defeated Brazil, because of a health issue.

Coach Solbakken himself experienced severe coughing fits during the post-match press conference following Norway's 4-1 loss to France.

In statements reported by Norwegian media, Solbakken said: "In fact, only Jørgen suffered from a fever, but there was a mild, scattered presence of coughing and hoarseness among everyone. We are moving within a group of more than 50 people with air conditioning, flights, and locker rooms, so it would be strange if this or that player did not get sick."

Regarding Pedersen's absence against Brazil, Solbakken explained that the player did not have a fever and was training normally. He spoke with the team doctor in the morning and was fine, but his condition deteriorated later.

After Norway's 2-1 victory over Brazil, Solbakken was seen in the locker room telling star player Erling: "You can go out tonight."

Haaland, born in Leeds, is preparing for the upcoming match against England this weekend, aiming to win the World Cup Golden Boot. He currently leads the top scorers list with seven goals, tied with Kylian Mbappé and another player.

Following the win, Solbakken gave his assistant staff a night off to celebrate, stating: "I let the assistant staff celebrate on their own. I was very tired, so I went to bed, rewatched the match, checked my phone and answered some messages, and slept very little, but it was a good morning."

About the next match, he said: "We have to study England. We have seen them in their previous matches, and they will be a strong opponent. We hope it will be a balanced and tightly contested game."

England's Challenging Path to Quarterfinals

On the other side, the England national team is receiving a few days of rest before turning their focus to the quarterfinal match, which will be held in Miami, USA, on Saturday.

Under German coach Thomas Tuchel, England achieved one of their most memorable World Cup results in recent memory by overcoming several obstacles to defeat the host nation, Mexico, 3-2.

The English faced challenges including high altitude, a loud home crowd, and playing with ten men after defender Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half. The exhausted players collapsed to the ground immediately after the final whistle following their resilience with a numerical disadvantage.

After the match, captain Harry Kane said: "We qualified for the next round on an incredible night. We appreciate the huge support from the fans in the stadium and those who stayed awake at home to watch us. The bonds with everyone have become stronger now, and we feel it more than ever. We will recover and relax for a few days, then clearly start preparing for a huge quarterfinal match."