Martin Odegaard wants everyone to stop worrying about his knee. The Norway captain and Arsenal midfielder has waved off fitness questions ahead of his country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Iraq on June 16 in Boston, telling Norwegian media that his knee “felt good” and that he sees no reason for concern.
For a player who missed key qualifiers after sustaining a left-knee MCL injury in October 2025, that’s exactly the kind of reassurance Norway needed to hear.
A timely return for Norway’s talisman
In a warm-up match against Morocco before the World Cup opener, Odegaard scored Norway’s equalizer, the kind of statement performance that does more to quiet injury talk than any press conference ever could.
Odegaard has been a senior international since the age of 15. He’s captained the side for five years. When he says he’s ready, the squad listens.
