London, Britain : Nikita Haikin has been granted Norwegian citizenship, paving the way for a potential call-up to the national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper, born in Israel and raised in Russia, has lived in Norway since 2019, apart from a brief spell with Bristol City in 2023. Having previously represented Russia at youth level, Haikin became eligible for naturalisation through residency and his marriage to a Norwegian citizen.
The 30-year-old has been instrumental in Bodo/Glimt’s domestic success and European campaigns, including a निर्णायक penalty save against Lazio that helped send his team into the UEFA Europa League semi-finals last season.
His inclusion would give Norway coach Stale Solbakken a selection dilemma, with Haikin expected to compete with Orjan Nyland, currently at Sevilla, for the starting role.
According to Norwegian Football Federation secretary general Karl-Petter Loeken, FIFA approval is still required before Haikin can officially represent Norway.
Norway, who qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, are set to announce their final squad by June 1.
