“Ødegaard reveals Haaland’s reaction after online abuse towards Sørloth.”

The elimination of Norway in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup left deep scars, particularly due to the controversy surrounding Alexander Sørloth. The forward faced harsh criticism and online insults following a controversial decision in a crucial play against England, which ultimately led to a 2-1 defeat in extra time.

At the decisive moment, with Norway leading 1-0, Sørloth initiated a counter-attack where, with Erling Haaland in a good position to his left and only defender John Stones in front of him, he chose not to pass the ball to his teammate and instead shot, missing the goal that could have practically secured the lead. This incident went viral on social media, with many fans accusing him of selfishness. Sørloth defended himself by saying: “The only thing I wanted to do in that situation was to pass to Erling, but I felt that the pass wasn’t there, so I tried to shoot.”


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The forward’s wife, Lena Selnes, has denounced the wave of hatred and threats that the player has received since Norway’s exit from the World Cup. She published several screenshots of violent and threatening messages, lamenting that “the World Cup and football bring a lot of joy, but also a lot of hate. I would prefer not to pay attention, but faced with comments like this, I have no choice.”

Despite the immense pressure on Sørloth, Norwegian captain Martin Ødegaard publicly defended his teammate and put the situation into perspective. Ødegaard stated: “I will not allow them to blame Alex. People only remember the last opportunity, but I remember everything he has done for the team throughout the tournament. One decision does not define a player.” Furthermore, he dismissed rumors about a tense atmosphere among the players after the game: “I saw Erling comforting Alex, and I saw Alex apologizing to his teammates. This is football, it hurts, but that’s also why we are a family.”

The controversy surrounding Sørloth highlights the emotional challenges and intense pressure that players face in major competitions. Ødegaard’s public defense reveals a group unity that, despite external criticism, keeps the collective spirit intact. The focus now is on recovering from this elimination and preparing for the next phase of these young Norwegian talents’ careers.

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