Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has withdrawn from the Norway squad for October’s international against New Zealand after suffering a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee.
Ødegaard (26), who also captains the Norway national team, sustained the injury in a collision with West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville during Arsenal’s 2-0 win in the English Premier League on Sunday October 5 (NZT).
It was the third EPL home fixture in a row that Ødegaard had to be substituted.
Confirming Ødegaard had been withdrawn from the Norway squad, Arsenal’s post-match statement said: “Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible.”
Centre back Leo Østigård has also withdrawn from the squad after breaking a rib.
Eivind Helland (Brann) and Kristian Malt Arnstad (AGF Aarhus) have been called into the squad as replacements for Ødegaard and Østigård.
Arsenal have cancelled a private jet that had been booked to take Ødegaard to and from his games against Israel on Sunday October 12 (NZT) and New Zealand.
Ødegaard, who has 69 caps for Norway, is the youngest player to ever play for the national team, making his debut when aged 15 years and 253 days. He has captained Norway since he was 21.
Meanwhile, two members of the New Zealand squad have withdrawn because of injury.
Forward Eli Just and defender Dalton Wilkins have pulled out of the All Whites squad for October’s games against Poland and Norway. Wellington Phoenix defender Lukas Kelly-Heald has been added to coach Darren Bazeley’s squad.
READ MORE: Phoenix youngster gets late call-up to All Whites after injuries force withdrawals >>>>
Squads
Norway
Player/caps/goals, club
Goalkeepers
Ørjan Nyland (63/0) Sevilla, Spain
Mathias Dyngeland (1/0) Brann, Norway
Egil Selvik (5/0) Watford, England
Defenders
David Møller Wolfe (14/1) Wolverhampton Wanderers, England
Julian Ryerson (36/1) Borussia Dortmund, Germany
Torbjørn Heggem (8/0) Bologna, Italy
Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (29/0) Torino, Italy
Fredrik André Bjørkan (15/1) Bodø/Glimt, Norway
Andreas Hanche-Olsen (21/0) Mainz 05, Germany
Felix Horn Myhre (5/2) Brann, Norway
Tobias Guddal (0/0) Tromsø, Norway
Eivind Helland (0/0), Brann, Norway
Midfielders
Morten Thorsby (63/7) Genoa, Italy
Kristoffer Ajer (45/2) Brentford, England
Patrick Berg (35/0) Bodø/Glimt, Norway
Sander Berge (58/1) Fulham, England
Thelo Aasgaard (3/5) Rangers, Scotland
Antonio Nusa (16/5) RB Leipzig, Germany
Oscar Bobb (12/2) Manchester City, England
Kristian Arnstad (0/0) AGF Aarhusm Denmark
Forwards
Alexander Sørloth (65/24) Atlético Madrid, Spain
Erling Haaland (45/48) Manchester City, England
Aune Heggebø (1/0) West Bromwich Albion, England
Aron Dønnum (15/2) Toulouse, France
Andreas Schjelderup (5/0) Benfica, Portugal
Withdrawals
Martin Ødegaard (69/15) Arsenal, England — injury
Leo Østigård (33/1) Genoa, Italy — injury
New Zealand
Player/caps/goals, club
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (19/0) Millwall, England
Alex Paulsen (3/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from Bournemouth, England)
Nik Tzanev (2/0) Newport County, Wales
Defenders
Tyler Bindon (19/3) Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest, England)
Michael Boxall (58/1) Minnesota United, United States
Francis de Vries (13/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Lukas Kelly-Heald (3/0) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tim Payne (45/3) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
George Stanger (debut) Kilmarnock, Scotland
Finn Surman (11/1) Portland Timbers, United States
Midfielders
Joe Bell (28/1) Viking FK, Norway
Andre de Jong (10/2) Stellenbosch, South Africa
Matt Garbett (32/5) Peterborough United, England
Callum McCowatt (26/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark
Ben Old (16/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France
Owen Parker-Price (debut) Örgryte, Sweden
Sarpreet Singh (22/3) FK TSC Bačka Topola, Serbia
Marko Stamenić (31/3) Swansea City, Wales
Ryan Thomas (21/3) PEC Zwolle, Netherlands
Bill Tuiloma (43/4) Charlotte FC, United States
Forwards
Ben Waine (24/8) Port Vale, England
Chris Wood (86/45) Nottingham Forest, England
Withdrawals
Eli Just (38/8) Motherwell, Scotland — injury
Dalton Wilkins (3/0) Kolding IF, Denmark (on loan from Sønderjyske, Denmark) — injury
Fixtures
Game to be played on Friday October 10, 2025 (NZT)
Poland v New Zealand
Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, Poland, 7.45am (NZT)
Game to be played on Wednesday October 15, 2025 (NZT)
Norway v New Zealand
Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway, 5am (NZT)
This story was first published on October 6, 2025.