Norway’s U20 national football team is preparing for its fourth appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, aiming to achieve a historic first: advancement beyond the group stage. Team manager Bjørn Johansen, a former player in the 1989 tournament, has set a clear objective for the squad as they face nigeria, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia in group play.
This year’s competition marks a notable prospect for Norway, which has never progressed past the group stage in its previous three U-20 World Cup appearances. Johansen emphasized the team’s ambition, stating, “We have a clear goal of becoming past. We have not moved on from the group play before, so there is clearly one step. If we can’t, it’s disappointing.” while players like Nypan and Egeli were considered, Johansen noted they are already well-established in their careers.
The team will draw inspiration from past successes, recalling Erling Braut Haaland’s record-breaking performance in the 2019 tournament, where he scored nine goals in a single match against Honduras. Johansen and the team are focused on making their own mark and achieving a breakthrough result for Norwegian football.