Silly season update. Not too many transfers over the last few weeks. The squads are beginning to look ready for pre-season training. And Isabell Herlovsen has found a new club on loan. Arna Bjørnar IN: Andrea Wilmann (fw, Stabæk), Oda Bogstad (gk, Lyn), Freja Olofsson (mf, KIF Örebro), Ngozi Ebere (df, Barcelona Limassol) OUT: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Sandviken), Vilde Bøe Risa (mf, Kopparbergs Göteborg), Maria Brochmann (mf, Sandviken), Amalie Eikeland (fw, Sandviken), Cecilie R. Kvamme (df, Sandviken), Lisa Naalsund (mf, Sandviken), Karoline Haugland (mf, Concordia University) Avaldsnes IN: Rebekah Stott (df, Sky Blue FC), Victoria Esson (gk, North Shore United), Stephanie Ribeiro (fw, Grand Bodø), Giovanna de Oliveira (fw, Chinese club), Robyn Decker (df, Grand Bodø), Maria Sørenes (fw, Klepp), Brena de Oliveira (mf, Santos FC), Erika Alves de Moura (mf, Santos FC), Rasheedat Ajibade (fw, FC Robo) OUT: Luana Bertolucci (mf, unknown dest.), Andreia Rosa (df, retiring), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Chante Sandiford (gk, unknown dest.), Dejana Stefanovic (df, unknown dest.), Maruschka Waldus (df, Vålerenga), Jamia Fields (fw, unknown dest.), Jordan O’Brien (mf, unknown dest.), Cho So-hyun (mf, unknown dest.) Fart IN: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Vålerenga), Naomi Griffin (fw, Kolbotn), Sigrid Bloch-Hansen (df, Øvrevoll Hosle), Sara Johansen (mf, Fløya) OUT: Frida Dybvig Haugen (fw, Røa) Klepp IN: Amanda Frisbie (df, Sky Blue FC), Havana Solaun (mf, Washington Spirit) OUT: Ina Kristoffersen (df, Stabæk), Kirsty Yallop (mf, retiring), Mackenzie Berryhill (df, unknown dest.) Kolbotn IN: Sara Hørte (mf, Øvrevoll Hosle), Isabell Herlovsen (fw, Vålerenga) OUT: Ina Gausdal (df, LSK Kvinner), Naomi Griffin (fw, Fart), Maren H. Johansen (fw, retiring) LSK Kvinner IN: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, Stabæk), Therese S. Åsland (mf, Røa), Elise Thorsnes (fw, Utah Royals), Ina Gausdal (df, Kolbotn), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, Avaldsnes) OUT: Sigridur Gardarsdottir (mf, IBV), Ida Fjordbakk (df, unknown dest.), Cathrine Dekkerhus (mf, possible retirement), Anna Westerlund (df, Åland United), Silje Blakstad (fw, Stabæk), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, Røa), Juliette Kemppi (fw, Bristol City), Ingrid Syrstad Engen (mf, Wolfsburg [from July]) Lyn IN: OUT: Oda Bogstad (gk, Arna Bjørnar), Katerina Bjerke (df, Grei) Røa IN: Synne Jensen (fw, Stabæk), Linn-Mari Nilsen (gk, Kaupanger), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, LSK Kvinner), Frida Dybvig Haugen (fw, Fart), Vilde Fjelldal (fw, Grand Bodø) OUT: Therese S. Åsland (mf, LSK Kvinner), Line Holter (mf, retiring), Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir (fw, Kristianstads DFF), Gabrielle Lie (mf, Stabæk) Sandviken IN: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Arna Bjørnar), Maria Brochmann (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Amalie Eikeland (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Cecilie R. Kvamme (df, Arna Bjørnar), Lisa Naalsund (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Ingrid Ryland (df, Djurgården) OUT: June Hammersland (df, retiring), Ajara Njoya (fw, Vålerenga) Stabæk IN: Katarina Naumanen (df, HJK Helsinki), Ina Kristoffersen (df, Klepp), Silje Blakstad (fw, LSK Kvinner), Ingvild Isaksen (mf, free agent), Chinyelu Asher (mf, Washington Spirit), Gabrielle Lie (mf, Røa) OUT: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Andrea Wilmann (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Synne Jensen (fw, Røa), Kelly Fitzgerald (mf, back to USA), Ine Østmo (mf, college in USA) Trondheims-Ørn IN: Maiken Bakke (fw, Grand Bodø) OUT: Svanhild Sand (df, Vålerenga) Vålerenga IN: Ajara Njoya (fw, Sandviken), Svanhild Sand (df, Trondheims-Ørn), Maruschka Waldus (df, Western Sydney Wanderers) OUT: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Fart), Camille Levin (df, unknown dest.), Anne Lise Olsen (fw, unknown dest.), Isabell Herlovsen (fw, Kolbotn)
It seems there is another twist to the plot in the Herlovsen saga. Her transfer to Kolbotn is put on hold. She passed the routine medical test, but Vålerenga want Herlovsen to take the blame for the conflict with coach Monica Knudsen as part of the contract. So Vålerenga basically demand her to sign the contract where it says that Isabell is the trouble-maker. Now the process is stalled. To be continued..
It may be just a point of honor but makes you wonder if there is a legal or financial implication to it. And speaking of honor... sad, I thought June Hammersland would never retire. Another real soldier who didn't go chasing waterfalls.
Friendly, La Manga Norway vs Canada 0-1 0-1 Christine Sinclair 66 Line-up (4-2-3-1): Ingrid Hjelmseth - Synne Skinnes Hansen (Cecilie Kvamme 36), Kristine Leine, Stine Hovland, Kristine Minde - Vilde Bøe Risa, Ingrid Syrstad Engen - Emilie Haavi, Guro Reiten (Therese Åsland 67), Caroline Hansen - Lisa-Marie Utland (Emilie Nautnes 77) Sjögren made two changes since the Scotland game. Hjelmseth in goal for Fiskerstrand and Kristine Leine at central defence for Ina Gausdal. I have not seen the match, but reports say it was an even game with Norway having slightly more chances in a game of relative few scoring chances. Cecilie Kvamme won her first cap. Sjögren said there is progress in the style he wants to play, and that his team deserved better than to lose this game. A marking error by Leine gave Sinclair the chance she needed to score with a header. Apparently there was a goal dubiously disallowed for Norway that never featured in the short recap below. Oh well. Algarve next.
Certainly seems that Norway are headed in the right direction. I did not see game but judging from highlights and reports, Norway were equal to or better. Without Herlovsen, Thorsnes, Mjelde, Moe Wold and Thorisdottir, too. (oh, and Hegerberg ) ; not sure if Canada was missing key players, too (saw Leon was on bench). Boy, that early Hansen opportunity was juicy!
If they didn't have enough of a stink on them, Vålerenga goes after Røa for poaching in Herlvosengate.
Neither team was anywhere near Cup form. Giving up one goal and a couple chances to a top 10 opponent is fine, especially down a few starters in the back. The problem in the game wasn't defending it was attacking. Canada defends well so they are a good measure and unfortunately the answer wasn't great. Very few opportunities and the only threat seemed to be Hansen who was gang tackled every time she touched the ball (and will be in the summer too). Sjögren doesn't have the quality and weapons up top to succeed so is going to have to rely on system instead of players to get results. Kvamme struggled comprehending play.
law10, the irony of your assessment is that Norway have a citizen named Hegerberg, possessing quality/weaponry, being at least top 3 in the world, IMHO. Getting her to play is another well discussed topic. Do not dismiss Herlovsen - she is unpredictably dangerous and Hansen can weave her way thru all sorts of defensive stances. Haavi has been ineffective for WNT . Lisa Marie can be dangerous but as Bauser has previously pointed out, seems to be less effective against the top tier teams - but she is no doubt improving and hoping she has a breakout game against a top team soon. Thorsnes can be dangerous but will she be healthy and be used as a striker? Norway's real gem however is their improved midfield. I remember just a few short years ago how bad it was, frankly, and was sadly on display at the EURO (combined with Lene and Ingvild and Solveig all suddenly gone). OMG - now see Guro (future Hege Riise ?) and Engen (and Minde and Hansen when there) and the improving Manuum. It is often a good midfield that makes a team successful by feeding the strikers with crisp passing. Finally, their defense is pretty solid and Norway was pretty solid even with Mjelde and Thorisdottir and Moe Wold missing. I am encouraged.
I love your positivity. Yes when Mykjåland stepped out it was unfortunately around the same time Stensland lost her mental groove and Gulbrandsen started getting long in the tooth and they left a big hole in the middle. Reiten is young but wonderful. Haven't seen enough of Engen. The only problem is they're both at least another Cup from their prime. Defensively the team is well setup. Not Christensen and Rønning but good quality and enough pieces to configure against different opponents. Goalkeeping is quality as long as Hjelmseth stays healthy. But here's the (World) Cup half empty to your half full. Haavi has always struggled to be in the moment. Herlovsen is a bull and a days work to mark to net but isn't someone who integrates well into a team attack. Utland is a good reactor at low to mid Toppserien level but over her head against top international defenders. Thorsnes lost her attacking effectiveness and got moved to the back. Hegerberg is a political prisoner. Hope I'm wrong but seems to me that to be successful they're going to need a style of play which doesn't rely on individual skill in the attack.
The dream never dies, just the dreamer: https://www.ba.no/sport/sandviken-kvinner/toppserien/veteranen-gjor-comeback/s/5-8-974653 More on Ngozie Ebere: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46939106 And another Nigerian to Avaldsnes: https://punchng.com/super-fasuper-f...-optimistic-of-better-days-in-norwegian-club/ The average age of men in the Eliteserien is 25, for women in the Toppserien 22. Obos has created four 50% load trainee positions for players so they can train at a high load without conflict, imagine there will be a push for more like this. Also most clubs have introduced two "professional" days a week for similar balance. https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/VRAQd1/vil-ha-flere-jenter-paa-fotballbanen-lengre
Ajibade's one of the most promising players around - scored a bunch of goals for the Nigeria senior team and U20s. Also this... (I thought freestyle meant she was a rapper, but no) Nigeria's female freestyle football star https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadio4/videos/nigerias-female-freestyle-football-star/2189466717975864/
Norway will play two games against New Zealand at Marbella in April. The matches will be played April 5th and 9th and will be the second-last test for the World Cup in France. - We are pleased to have two matches against a World Cup clear opponent. We have chosen to add them to Spain to get the best possible conditions. This will be another step in the preparations for what will happen in June, says national team chief Martin Sjögren. Norway and New Zealand have met six times earlier. Norway has won three, two have ended a draw and one with Norwegian losses. The last time the teams met the double matches in Stavanger in 2014. Then it ended 1-1 in the first match and 2-0 victory to Norway in match two. New Zealand, like Norway, is ready for the World Cup this summer, where they ended up in a group with the Netherlands, Canada and Cameroon. Norway's last match before the World Cup is under precamp in May. Source of article: NFF website
Silly season update: Arna Bjørnar IN: Andrea Wilmann (fw, Stabæk), Oda Bogstad (gk, Lyn), Freja Olofsson (mf, KIF Örebro), Ngozi Ebere (df, Barcelona Limassol), Madelen Holme (mf, Sandviken), Milica Mijatovic (mf, Hammarby), Lais Araujo (mf, Florida Gators) OUT: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Sandviken), Vilde Bøe Risa (mf, Kopparbergs Göteborg), Maria Brochmann (mf, Sandviken), Amalie Eikeland (fw, Sandviken), Cecilie R. Kvamme (df, Sandviken), Lisa Naalsund (mf, Sandviken), Karoline Haugland (mf, Concordia University) Avaldsnes IN: Rebekah Stott (df, Sky Blue FC), Victoria Esson (gk, North Shore United), Stephanie Ribeiro (fw, Grand Bodø), Giovanna de Oliveira (fw, Chinese club), Robyn Decker (df, Grand Bodø), Maria Sørenes (fw, Klepp), Brena de Oliveira (mf, Santos FC), Erika Alves de Moura (mf, Santos FC), Rasheedat Ajibade (fw, FC Robo) OUT: Luana Bertolucci (mf, unknown dest.), Andreia Rosa (df, retiring), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Chante Sandiford (gk, unknown dest.), Dejana Stefanovic (df, unknown dest.), Maruschka Waldus (df, Vålerenga), Jamia Fields (fw, unknown dest.), Jordan O’Brien (mf, unknown dest.), Cho So-hyun (mf, West Ham United) Fart IN: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Vålerenga), Naomi Griffin (fw, Kolbotn), Sigrid Bloch-Hansen (df, Øvrevoll Hosle), Sara Johansen (mf, Fløya), Sanna Porali (df, Åland United) OUT: Frida Dybvig Haugen (fw, Røa) Klepp IN: Amanda Frisbie (df, Sky Blue FC), Havana Solaun (mf, Washington Spirit) OUT: Ina Kristoffersen (df, Stabæk), Kirsty Yallop (mf, retiring), Mackenzie Berryhill (df, unknown dest.) Kolbotn IN: Sara Hørte (mf, Øvrevoll Hosle), Isabell Herlovsen (fw, Vålerenga) OUT: Ina Gausdal (df, LSK Kvinner), Naomi Griffin (fw, Fart), Maren H. Johansen (fw, retiring) LSK Kvinner IN: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, Stabæk), Therese S. Åsland (mf, Røa), Elise Thorsnes (fw, Utah Royals), Ina Gausdal (df, Kolbotn), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, Avaldsnes) OUT: Sigridur Gardarsdottir (mf, IBV), Ida Fjordbakk (df, unknown dest.), Cathrine Dekkerhus (mf, possible retirement), Anna Westerlund (df, Åland United), Silje Blakstad (fw, Stabæk), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, Røa), Juliette Kemppi (fw, Bristol City), Ingrid Syrstad Engen (mf, Wolfsburg [from July]) Lyn IN: Karen Sneve (gk, Grei) OUT: Oda Bogstad (gk, Arna Bjørnar), Katerina Bjerke (df, Grei) Røa IN: Synne Jensen (fw, Stabæk), Linn-Mari Nilsen (gk, Kaupanger), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, LSK Kvinner), Frida Dybvig Haugen (fw, Fart), Vilde Fjelldal (fw, Grand Bodø), Synne Masdal (df, Herd), Julie Støstad (fw, Amazon Grimstad) OUT: Therese S. Åsland (mf, LSK Kvinner), Line Holter (mf, retiring), Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir (fw, Kristianstads DFF), Gabrielle Lie (mf, Stabæk) Sandviken IN: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Arna Bjørnar), Maria Brochmann (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Amalie Eikeland (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Cecilie R. Kvamme (df, Arna Bjørnar), Lisa Naalsund (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Ingrid Ryland (df, Djurgården) OUT: June Hammersland (df, retiring), Ajara Njoya (fw, Vålerenga), Madelen Holme (mf, Arna Bjørnar), Laila Himle (df, Fortuna Hjørring) Stabæk IN: Katarina Naumanen (df, HJK Helsinki), Ina Kristoffersen (df, Klepp), Silje Blakstad (fw, LSK Kvinner), Ingvild Isaksen (mf, free agent), Chinyelu Asher (mf, Washington Spirit), Gabrielle Lie (mf, Røa), Tanja Løfshus (mf, Fortuna Hjørring) OUT: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Andrea Wilmann (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Synne Jensen (fw, Røa), Kelly Fitzgerald (mf, back to USA), Ine Østmo (mf, college in USA), Rebecca Mykland (mf, Øvrevoll Hosle) Trondheims-Ørn IN: Maiken Bakke (fw, Grand Bodø), Lauren Silver (mf, Jamaica) OUT: Svanhild Sand (df, Vålerenga) Vålerenga IN: Ajara Njoya (fw, Sandviken), Svanhild Sand (df, Trondheims-Ørn), Maruschka Waldus (df, Western Sydney Wanderers) OUT: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Fart), Camille Levin (df, unknown dest.), Anne Lise Olsen (fw, unknown dest.), Isabell Herlovsen (fw, Kolbotn)
On Sjögren's command, the first of those New Zealand games will be played behind closed doors. No access for spectators, cameras or media. Secret tactics will be tried out. I don't get good vibes from this at all. I get the feeling he is panicking.
I wonder if the Ferns were involved in that decision too? Closed doors used to be a lot simpler before the videotech revolution. What do you do when the drone is in the air piloted by someone 10km away? Cancel the game? They shut down Gatwick a couple months ago because they couldn't find out who it was. And even if you play in an indoor facility you're presuming no one has previously planted a small HD camera somewhere, which is almost impossible to sweep for.
Many Toppserien clubs are on a pre-season camp in Belek (Turkey) this week to test themselves against other Norwegian and foreign clubs. Matches to be played every day this week. Three matches on Tuesday: Arna Bjørnar 0-0 Røa Lyn 1-0 Avaldsnes Fart 0-5 Trondheims-Ørn
Vålerenga were due to play a friendly with CSKA Moscow on Wednesday in Turkey, but the match was cancelled at half time at 0-0 due to the pitch being flooded after torrential rain. Martin Sjögren has announced his squad for Algarve Cup. Preliminary matches against Denmark (Feb 27) and China (Mar 01) plus a third match in the finals to decide ranking in the tournament. Not four matches this year. Goalkeepers Ingrid Hjelmseth ................ 1980 ..... Stabæk Cecilie Fiskerstrand .......... 1996 ..... LSK Kvinner Aurora Mikalsen ................ 1996 ..... Kolbotn Defenders Cecilie R. Kvamme ............ 1995 ..... Sandviken Maria Thorisdottir .............. 1993 ..... Chelsea (ENG) Kristine Leine .................... 1996 ..... Røa Kristine Minde ................... 1992 ..... Wolfsburg (GER) Ingrid Moe Wold ................ 1990 ..... LSK Kvinner Ina Gausdal ...................... 1991 ..... LSK Kvinner Stine Hovland .................... 1991 ..... Sandviken Midfielders Guro Reiten ...................... 1994 ..... LSK Kvinner Vilde Bøe Risa .................. 1995 ..... Kopparbergs Göteborg (SWE) Ingrid Engen ..................... 1998 ..... LSK Kvinner / Wolfsburg (GER) Therese Åsland ................. 1995 ..... LSK Kvinner Karina Sævik .................... 1996 ..... Kolbotn Maren Mjelde .................... 1989 ..... Chelsea (ENG) Frida Maanum ................... 1999 ..... Linköping (SWE) Caroline G. Hansen ........... 1995 ..... Wolfsburg (GER) Forwards Synne Skinnes Hansen ...... 1995 ..... LSK Kvinner Lisa-Marie Utland ............... 1992 ..... Rosengård (SWE) Emilie Haavi ...................... 1995 ..... LSK Kvinner Emilie Nautnes .................. 1999 ..... Arna Bjørnar Amalie Eikeland ................ 1995 ..... Sandviken Isabell Herlovsen ............... 1988 ..... Kolbotn Key players Maren Mjelde, Frida Maanum and Maria Thorisdottir missed out at La Manga a few weeks ago. They are now back from injuries, but may be a bit rusty. Nora Gjøen loses back-up goalkeeper spot to Aurora Mikalsen. Ingrid Ryland loses full-back spot to Ingrid Moe Wold, who is making a come-back after injury. Nora Eide Lie loses spot to club mate Karina Sævik in midfield. Sævik might be the most interesting name in the squad right now. Excellent at times in Kolbotn, but dogged by injuries. This is her chance to make an impact before the World Cup. Isabell Herlovsen is back after conflicts at club level. This squad is pretty much as good as it gets apart from Elise Thorsnes, who is injured. Time to shine now! We want something to be optimistic about.
Another challenge is inexperience. Of the 24 players currently selected for Algarve Cup, as many as 14 players have less than 20 caps. And many of those caps have been won after short spells as substitutes in friendlies or qualifiers against weak opposition. We only have 8 or 10 players who can be dubbed seasoned internationals, and not everyone of these players are top quality anymore. Norway's hopes rest very much on whether a handful of these key players can hit peak form this summer or not. My gut instincts tell me this World Cup might come one or two years too early for this group of players. Certainly the central midfield with Maanum and Engen. Both are great prospects, but only 19-20 y/o, and you can't ask them to dominate a senior World Cup. There are signs of improvement in how we play and build up attacks, but also short-comings, vulnerability, inefficiency and silly mistakes at the back. We definitely need some positive news from Algarve against China and Denmark, teams we have to beat if we want to achieve something in the World Cup.
The talent band has shrunk and almost any of the top 1-20 can go on a roll. Like the Euro I think the key is to be on form at the right moment. I think some coaches also may not want to show their full hand yet. What would be good to see now would be quality from individual players. Still a fair bit of time to master the recipe.
More friendlies from Turkey today: LSK Kvinner 2 - 0 CSKA Moscow Haavi 3, Gausdal 9 Vålerenga 1 - 0 Spartak Subotica Spitse 45(p) Trondheims-Ørn 0 - 2 Kolbotn Hørte 22,69 Stabæk 0 - 1 Avaldsnes Tvedten 16 Lyn 1 - 0 Arna Bjørnar Löfwenius 24 Røa 3 - 1 Fart S.Jensen 30,90, Svastuen 36 - Blakstad 52 In other news, Maria Thorisdottir has extended her contract at Chelsea with two more years.
Ingvild Isaksen just announced her retirement on social media. Her troubled knee stops her from another come-back.
possible Nordic bid to host the 2027 WWC (from NFF website): Nordic cooperation on "Vision 2027" The six Nordic football federations are collaborating on a pilot project concerning the application for the World Cup for Women in 2027. Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on mail Print . | Photo:. For over a year, the Nordic football associations (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands) have had a working group dedicated to working with potential joint applications for future international championships. Having reviewed both the FIFA and UEFA championships, the six federations have come to the conclusion that the dream and ambitions of arranging future championships will live on and that they will join together for an application for one of the greatest future international football championships . - We have a good Nordic co-operation, which among other things works for better framework conditions for women's football internationally, and then it became a natural choice for us to initiate a process to arrange the football World Cup for women. The Nordic countries have a leading position in women's football, and I hope that we will be able to reach our application when that time comes, "says football president Terje Svendsen. Last week, the "Nordic Working Group for Common Championship Applications" had a meeting, and agreed to initiate a pilot project on a potential application for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. FIFA has signaled a positive approach to joint organizers for their championships in the future, which has opened the door for the Nordic ambitions. The six football federations have so far concluded that a joint application should be based on common Nordic values. In addition, the study will map how many Nordic football arenas can meet the requirements for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Anyway, there will also be several other activities and events related to the championship, which means that the hosts can be distributed to all six countries. A joint project like this will also further strengthen Nordic co-operation, and become a good source of new expertise and inspiration in the Nordic region. The pilot project has been named "Vision 2027". The first phase will involve surveys in the respective countries regarding which cities and stadiums will be interested in being part of the project.
If bid is successful, would be interesting to see how they figure out: would all six countries get automatically qualified to play in WWC - or - have a mini tourney amongst themselves - or - field a combined team representing the Nordic region? Food for thought...........
I had managed to guess that the badge that I had never seen before was the Faroe Islands one, but it was new to me. This makes me wonder about Faroe Islands in particular: I know they have a men's NT (that also played in Euro-qualifiers), so they should have at least one venue that's cleared for international football, but would venues, transports, facilities be enough for a World Cup level (although, at the moment, WWC's requirements aren't probably as "big" as men's WC's ones)? Also, while Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland all have a very good tradition in women's football, with even World Cup or Euro winners or finalists, I am not even aware if Faroe Islands have a women's team. Have they one? By the way, what's their political status? Are they going to request independence from Denmark soon? Or are they are currently perfectly ok with being part of Danish Kingdom? Yeah, this is a problem: frankly I can't see all the six teams being automatically qualified and forming alone the pot 1 for the draw: this would be way too much taxing towards the other Euro-teams who should qualify through groups. There are currently 9 teams from UEFA at the WWC: even if you factor in a "bonus spot" that always used to be there for the host team, you could get to 10 at max. If 6 would be given to Nordic countries, there would remain just 3-4 spots: so you'd have Finland get a berth and leave out Spain? Get Faroe Islands and lose Netherlands? Even if the World Cup could be expanded from 24 to 32 teams by 2027, I don't think it would be realistic to grant a spot to 6 "hosts". The Nordic bid is sure very interesting: these are countries where a real "women's football culture" has always thrived, so I am sure that they would be a wonderful place to play a World Cup (in summer, of course, especially for the countries closer to the Polar Circle. But I've been in Denmark and in Sweden in July and the weather was perfect). But I don't think giving all the 6 countries a berth would be feasible. A big "Nordic NT" doesn't sound very likely either: apart from longtime regional rivalries, some of these NTs are "too big" for that, both for their history and for their pool of players. Ok, we're talking 8 years from now, so take these names just as examples, but you'd risk having, just saying, Pernille Harder and Caroline Graham Hansen fighting for a starting spot? Leaving out one central FW between Hegerberg and Blackstenius? Saying Dagny Brynjarsdottir that we're sorry but there is just no more place in the roster? I am aware that this has been done in Olympic years for team GB, but it was different: UK is anyway a single country, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have never been powerhouses of women's football, they would quite always basically contribute with 1-2 players to team England. Not sure if this can be done for 6 Nordic countries. Probably, the mini-qualifier would be the best solution. Consider that, with a 24 teams World Cup (and moreso with a 32 teams one) Sweden, Norway and Denmark would most probably qualify anyway (although this year Denmark missed it and Norway grabbed their berth at the last moment after a thrilling fight vs Netherlands). But I guess having these 6 teams play-off for three places could probably be a good compromise (maybe, giving the losers a chance to take part to the Euro-qualifying groups anyway).