Norwegian Striker's World Cup Dreams on the Line

Andreas Schjelderup's World Cup hopes hanging in the balance

Norwegian footballer Andreas Schjelderup risks missing the World Cup due to a suspended sentence for sharing an illegal video.

Schjelderup risks missing out on World Cup if given suspended sentence for sharing video...

Norwegian international striker Andreas Schelderup risks missing out on the FIFA World Cup after he has admitted to sharing an illegal video, which is likely to be penalized by a suspended sentence by the Danish Court.

The 21-year-old Schelderup is indicted for sharing an illegal video featuring sexual content with minors two years ago, when he was 19 years old and playing for FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga. 

A suspended sentence could lead to Visa issues, making it difficult for Andreas Schjelderup to travel to the World Cup, according to Danish lawyer Martin Dahlgaard. This could be a major setback for the young striker's career, especially if he's selected for the Norwegian squad.

“A suspended sentence makes it difficult,” says Dahlgaard. “In this case, there are two different scenarios: He may already have a Visa to the United States. You may only state a criminal history at the time of application. You do not need to state it afterwards to the American Embassy if you already have a Visa, but you must state it at the border if asked.”

If Andreas Schjelderup is given a suspended sentence, it doesn't necessarily mean he's ineligible for a Visa, but it could make the process more challenging. According to Danish lawyer Martin Dahlgaard, there is a possible solution: Schjelderup could apply for a Visa waiver or seek legal counsel to explore options for mitigating the impact of the sentence on his travel plans.

“The Embassy can recommend a waiver. It must be done by Homeland Security in Washington, DC. And they can exercise discretion. They can say that «this is an athlete and he will play in the World Cup». The only problem is that it can take a very long time.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11 and run until July 19, 2026, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico serving as co-hosts. This edition will mark a historic milestone, as it'll be the first time three countries are hosting the tournament together. The event will also feature an expanded format, with 48 teams competing, making it a truly global celebration of football.

Norway international Andreas Schjelderup has said he expects to be convicted for illegally sharing a video.

In a statement on Instagram on Saturday, the 21-year-old Benfica winger revealed that he is likely to receive a suspended sentence “in the near future” for making “a… pic.twitter.com/hEWdtuvJxZ

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If, on the other hand, Andreas Schjelderup does not have a Visa today, then it will be more difficult, Dahlgaard believes.

“Then he must state this at the American Embassy in Oslo. And there they must assess whether what has happened falls under the term ’moral turpitude,’ I think that is the case here, based on what I have read about the case. The employee at the Embassy cannot exercise discretion. For him or her, it is black and white, and they cannot assess the evidence in the case.”