Norway to face Sweden in classic Scandinavian clash to warm up for the FIFA World Cup

[p]Before the meeting with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a] will take part in the play-off tournament to qualify for the World Cup later this month. Sweden will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ukraine/j1JtDMwo/"]Ukraine[/a] on neutral ground in the semi-final in March. If they win, they will face the winner of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/poland/2HzmcynI/"]Poland[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/albania/ELP2K4oB/"]Albania[/a] in the playoff final – on home soil.[/p][p][b]"I am sure that Graham Potter will gain momentum in Sweden again. They have a fair chance to succeed in March, and thus come to Oslo in June ready for the World Cup and with confidence"[/b], says Norwegian national team coach Stale Solbakken.[/p][p]"There is always something extra at stake when you play against neighbours, which intensifies what goes on on the pitch and in the stands. A match like this will be a perfect preparation for the World Cup for us", he adds.[/p][p]The Swedes also state that they are looking forward to the encounter.[/p][embed guid="d5b4b470-a117-4e9c-abab-05ac290fc331" url="https://x.com/nff_landslag/status/2029482682917306656" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It feels good to have the opponent in place in the first game in June, and we are looking forward to traveling to Oslo and playing against Norway. It will be a classic Nordic meeting with good energy"[/b], says Stefan Pettersson, who is the administrative head of the Swedish national team.[/p][p]"Norway is ready for the World Cup, and when we meet in June, we hope that we are too, and that the match will be an important part of the preparations for the championship", he adds.[/p][p]The day after the Sweden match, the Norwegian stars will board the plane to the USA.[/p][p]In the USA, Norway will also play a warm-up match against a top team. In addition, the plan is to schedule another game behind closed doors.[/p][p]Should Sweden advance to the World Cup, they are set to play their first match against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico. Norway will play its first game in the tournament against the winner of the FIFA Playoff mini tournament between Bolivia, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/suriname/jefTDM4k/"]Suriname[/a], and Iraq in Boston on 16 June.[/p]