Norway captain Martin Odegaard keeps banter with his Arsenal teammates to a minimum as his side prepare to face England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final, which will see club friends go head-to-head on football’s biggest stage.
Odegaard, who also captains Arsenal, will face fellow Premier League-winning teammates Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze on Saturday when Norway play England at the Miami Stadium.
The midfielder said he spoke to a few of them during the tournament but focused on the task at hand rather than a friendly chat.
«Not too much chatter. I spoke to a few of them a little bit during the tournament,» a smiling Odegaard told reporters on Wednesday.
«Obviously we know the quality they have. I know them very well. Excellent players, world-class players, playing for probably one of the best national teams in the world at the moment, so it will be a big test for us.»
Odegaard had special praise for Rice, who anchors England’s midfield, which could prove to be a key battleground in the quarter-final.
“He is someone who always gives everything for the team, always fights for every ball, brings his energy to the field, to the team and drives the team forward.
«He can do so many things on the pitch. He can defend, he can attack, he can be physical, he can be good on the ball. He is a very complete player, so it will be a good test for all of us.»
«And it’s not just about Declan, but the whole team has incredible players. It’s a huge test and we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully we can make even more history.»
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Odegaard said Norway took confidence from its victory over five-time champions Brazil to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time ever, and that the side could pull off another upset despite being cast as underdogs again.
“I think Brazil (in the last 16) was the same, we were the underdogs and, as you saw, in football anything can happen,” he said. “We’re going to give it a good try, see what we can do and (are) looking forward to it.
«We have to believe in ourselves. We have shown the whole world that we are a good team. In football, anything is possible. Even if we are the underdogs again, let’s see what happens and let’s prepare well.»
Published on July 8, 2026
