Erling Haaland is expected to be available for Norway’s UEFA Nations League clash with Denmark on Thursday, September 24, despite reports claiming that the Manchester City striker had withdrawn from the national team squad because of a slight headache.
The report circulating on social media suggested that Haaland had pulled out of Norway’s squad and would miss the September–October international break. However, the latest available information from the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) does not support that claim.
Haaland was named in Norway’s 25-man squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures and remains listed among the players selected by head coach Ståle Solbakken. The NFF announced the squad on September 15, with Norway scheduled to face Denmark and Portugal at home before travelling to Wales and Portugal.
Haaland Included in Norway’s Squad
The Norwegian Football Federation’s official squad announcement specifically lists Erling Braut Haaland among the players selected for the Nations League campaign.
Norway will begin their League A Group 4 campaign against Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on Thursday. The match is scheduled for 8:45 PM local time, with the fixture also confirmed on the federation’s official match calendar.
The squad announcement is significant because it directly contradicts claims that Haaland had already withdrawn from international duty.
At the time of writing, there has been no official confirmation from the Norwegian Football Federation that Haaland has been removed from the squad because of a headache.
Is Haaland Expected to Start Against Denmark?
Haaland is currently expected to be involved against Denmark, and several pre-match reports have included the Manchester City striker in their predicted Norway lineups.
However, there is an important distinction between being available for selection and being confirmed in the starting XI.
The official starting lineups are not normally confirmed until shortly before kick-off. UEFA’s official match page also notes that squad information is updated on matchday, meaning supporters should wait for the official team sheet before treating any predicted lineup as definitive.
Therefore, the most accurate description at this stage is that Haaland is available and expected to start, rather than saying that his starting position has already been officially confirmed.
Norway Begin Nations League Campaign Against Denmark
Norway’s opening fixture is particularly important as the team enters the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League at League A level.
Norway were drawn in Group A4, alongside Denmark, Portugal and Wales. UEFA’s official fixture list confirms that Norway will play Denmark on September 24, followed by Portugal on September 27. They will then travel to face Wales on October 1 before meeting Portugal away on October 4.
The Nations League campaign provides another competitive test for a Norwegian side that has Haaland as its primary attacking threat.
Haaland also enters the campaign with a significant international scoring record. UEFA’s profile of Norway’s 2026 World Cup campaign identifies him as the country’s leading scorer during the qualification campaign, with 16 goals.
What About the Headache Report?
The claim that Haaland suffered a slight headache and subsequently withdrew from the Norway squad has not been substantiated by the official information currently available.
That does not necessarily mean that every detail of the report is false. Players can experience minor illnesses or physical issues during an international break, and their status can change rapidly. However, there is currently no official NFF announcement confirming that Haaland has withdrawn from the squad for that reason.
For now, the available evidence points in the opposite direction: Haaland remains part of Norway’s squad and is expected to be available for the Denmark match.
Supporters should therefore be cautious about sharing posts claiming that the Manchester City forward has definitely been ruled out of the entire international window.
Norway’s Upcoming Fixtures
After the Denmark match, Norway are scheduled to face Portugal at Ullevaal on September 27.
They will then travel to Wales for their October 1 fixture before playing Portugal away on October 4. The official schedule confirms all four matches as part of Norway’s Nations League group campaign.
With Haaland currently included in the squad, his availability could be an important storyline throughout the opening matches.
Bottom Line
The claim that Erling Haaland has withdrawn from Norway’s squad because of a slight headache is currently not supported by official information.
The Norwegian Football Federation has Haaland in its 25-man Nations League squad, while Norway are scheduled to host Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion on September 24. Current pre-match information indicates that Haaland is expected to feature, although the official starting XI must be confirmed by Norway before kick-off.
For the latest team news, supporters should rely on the Norwegian Football Federation and UEFA’s official match information rather than unverified social media reports.
Norway vs Denmark kicks off at 8:45 PM local time in Oslo on Thursday, September 24, 2026.