However, there’s more to Norway’s success than quotas, according to Håkon Grøttland, head of player development at the Norwegian Football Federation.
He says two big changes over the past 25 years have made a huge difference – the increase in the use of artificial pitches, and more resources being put into coaching and talent development.
Grøttland says artificial pitches allowed football to develop from a summer game to a year-round sport, turning Norway into a proper football nation.
Between 2016 and 2025 alone, 539 such pitches were built, with another 586 redeveloped.
Nearly all are open and free to use, so long as official games aren’t taking place.
Grøttland says changes to player development have provided the second boost to the country’s game.
“In the period 2010 to 2020 we used a lot of resources, hired a lot of talent coaches, and built some talent systems in Norway, where I think it’s quite unique because it’s a system that link grassroots football and top club football together,” he says.
That talent system is Landslagskollen – or the National Team School (NTS) – that was established in 2013, following the country’s failure to qualify for Euro 2012.
It’s neither an academy nor a centralised school, but a national development structure connecting grassroots clubs, districts, top clubs and the federation.
Eleven of the 15 players who played in Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup were part of the NTS pathway from under-15 or under-16s.
Despite a disappointing group campaign, a return to the World Cup after decades in the desert was a significant achievement for the Scotland national team.
The question now is whether the next generation can be developed.
The Tartan Army will not want to wait another 28 years.
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