Kristoffer Ajer, Jordan Henderson, Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago have all been called up to represent their countries at the World Cup this summer. They reveal what it means to reach football’s biggest stage, and the different journeys that have brought them to this point in their international careers.
“It’s amazing that Brentford Football Club have players who are going to a World Cup,” said head coach Keith Andrews.
“The journey we’ve been on has been incredible, and to think about our players going to a World Cup only a few years ago would have been a dream! It’s a testament to the work that’s gone on and the striving nature of the club.
“Going to a major tournament like this is a huge part of a player’s career. The opportunity to play at a World Cup doesn’t come around for many, so it will be a pretty special moment.”
This summer, four Bees players will head to the tournament in North America. Each has taken a different path to this point in their international career.
For Kristoffer Ajer, there is the pride of an historic qualification with Norway. For Jordan Henderson, there is the already extensive experience with England on the biggest stage. Aaron Hickey’s return from injury has put him back in the conversation for Scotland. And Igor Thiago is building a case to become Brazil’s no.9.
“It’s amazing that Brentford Football Club have players who are going to a World Cup,” said head coach Keith Andrews.
“The journey we’ve been on has been incredible, and to think about our players going to a World Cup only a few years ago would have been a dream! It’s a testament to the work that’s gone on and the striving nature of the club.
“Going to a major tournament like this is a huge part of a player’s career. The opportunity to play at a World Cup doesn’t come around for many, so it will be a pretty special moment.”
This summer, four Bees players will head to the tournament in the USA. Each has taken a different path to this point in their international career.
For Kristoffer Ajer, there is the pride of an historic qualification with Norway. For Jordan Henderson, there is the already extensive experience with England on the biggest stage. Aaron Hickey’s return from injury has put him back in the conversation for Scotland. And Igor Thiago is building a case to become Brazil’s no.9.
HENDERSON
Of the four, Henderson knows this competition best. While the others are chasing a first taste of the World Cup, the midfielder will go to what would be his fourth, having been called up to England squads in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
He is the first Englishman to make it to seven major tournaments and will arrive in North America as one of the tournament’s most experienced players.
He made 11 appearances during those tournaments, reaching the semi-final with Gareth Southgate’s side in Russia in 2018. He then scored his first World Cup goal against Senegal in the round of 16 in 2022.
Managed by Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions qualified for the competition having won all eight of their games and not conceding a goal.
“I never take playing for England for granted,” said the midfielder, who has captained the Three Lions on 10 occasions across his international career.
“I’ve been involved with the national team for some time now, but it’s still just as special for me from when I won my first cap.
“It’s always an honour to lead the team out as captain when I get the chance, and I just want to keep trying to help and improve the team whenever they need it.”
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia | Wednesday 17 June, 9pm BST
England 0-0 Ghana | Tuesday 23 June, 9pm BST
Panama 0-2 England | Saturday 27 June, 10pm BST
Round of 32
England 2-1 DR Congo | Wednesday 1 July, 5pm BST
Round of 16
Mexico 2-3 England | Monday 6 July, 1am BST
Quarter-final
Norway 1-2 England AET | Saturday 11 July, 10pm BST
Semi-final
England v Argentina | Wednesday 15 July, 8pm BST
THIAGO
Henderson may be Brentford’s most experienced international figure, but his team-mate Thiago is just beginning his journey on the world stage.
He made his Brazil debut in March, coming on as a second-half substitute against France in a friendly, and has quickly put himself into the conversation for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI this summer.
Discussing the Bees centre-forward, Henderson added: “He’s been brilliant. He’s a really, really top guy. He worked so hard to get back fit after a long injury last season, and this year he’s been phenomenal.
“He’s a real handful on the pitch, but he’s also an honest guy and he works really, really hard. He’s getting his rewards on the pitch.
“Hopefully he can continue his good form between now and the end of the season - but maybe not so much at the World Cup!”
Brazil qualified in slightly unconvincing fashion under Ancelotti, who is still searching for the right balance in attack ahead of the tournament.
Thiago offers a different profile to many of the other attacking options available to the former Real Madrid, Chelsea and AC Milan boss, with some viewing him as Brazil’s closest option to a traditional no.9.
And he has put himself firmly in the conversation with his form for Brentford, having scored 22 Premier League goals this term, which is more than any other Brazilian has in a single season.
Leading the line for one of the tournament favourites is, therefore, a genuine possibility for the 24-year-old, who has scored twice for Seleção in friendlies.
Thiago believes he is ready to take on that responsibility and follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest forwards of all time.
“This World Cup feeling is very exciting,” he told The Guardian. “I’ve always dreamed of playing in a World Cup. It’s something I only saw other people experiencing on television, but now I’m close to experiencing it myself.
“God has a purpose in everyone’s life. It will be a pleasure, an honour, to represent my country. It is an indescribable feeling to represent my country, to be able to experience this moment. It will be something I can’t explain.
“I believe I am ready. The only thing I know how to do in my life is score goals.
“God has prepared me for this moment and, if he allows me, we will bring the sixth World Cup title to Brazil.”
On his call-up, he went on to say: “It feels unreal, I can't believe it. I am really happy and really proud. I cannot wait to be there.”
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco | Saturday 13 June, 11pm BST
Brazil 3-0 Haiti | Saturday 20 June, 1.30am BST
Scotland 0-3 Brazil | Wednesday 24 June, 11pm BST
Round of 32
Brazil 2-1 Japan | Monday 29 June, 6pm BST
Round of 16
Brazil 1-2 Norway | Sunday 5 July, 9pm BST
AJER
Norway and Ajer qualified in extremely comfortable fashion, with the defence playing a crucial role in that. He started all eight of their Group I games at centre-back, becoming one of the first names in Ståle Solbakken’s starting XI.
Alongside England, the Scandinavian side were one of two nations to have a 100 per cent record throughout qualification, scoring more goals than any other team (37) and winning six games by three or more goals.
In their final group game, a 4-1 win over Italy, thanks to an Erling Haaland brace, saw them qualify for their first World Cup 28 years on from their last.
Ajer said in The Long Read earlier this season: “Italy has always been the team to knock us out in tournaments, so to beat such a fantastic nation is basically a dream for us.
“It was incredible, one of the best weeks of my life to qualify for the World Cup with Norway.
“My time at Brentford has been magnificent for me; also, I have to say, representing my country and bringing them to a tournament has been my main goal for the last few years.”
He added: “It is, of course, difficult to say how we’re going to perform in the World Cup with the little experience we have from tournaments.
"Representing my country is going to be a very special thing.
“We were in the World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000, but I don’t remember any of it. I’ve been told how amazing it will be, with everyone being able to travel over and see the World Cup. Finally, another generation can do it.”
Group I
Iraq 1-4 Norway | Tuesday 16 June, 11pm BST
Norway 3-2 Senegal | Tuesday 23 June, 1am BST
Norway 1-4 France | Friday 26 June, 8pm BST
Round of 32
Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway | Tuesday 30 June, 6pm BST
Round of 16
Brazil 1-2 Norway | Sunday 5 July, 9pm BST
Quarter-final
Norway 1-2 England AET | Saturday 11 July, 10pm BST
HICKEY
For Hickey, the prospect of playing at this summer’s World Cup, at one stage, may have felt uncertain, with the full-back picking up a hamstring injury at the end of February.
His return to the Bees’ matchday squads at the end of the season, however, saw the 23-year-old called up by Steve Clarke. Hickey missed just one qualification game in Group A, as Scotland topped a strong pool containing Denmark, Greece and Belarus.
“It means a lot,” he admitted, after they qualified with a dramatic late win against the Danes. “It needed time to settle in my head because of the last few years and what I went through.
“Now to get through to the World Cup is a major thing for me. I’m just delighted. I’m just so happy.
“I can’t believe it, to be honest. Playing at the World Cup is everything you dream of as a kid.
“I believe in manifesting. If you don’t believe in yourself and the squad doesn’t believe, then you won’t do it.
“We’re a great group, and we all believe in each other, and we all stick together. We know what we’re capable of, so we managed to prove that.”
Group C
Haiti 0-1 Scotland | Sunday 14 June, 2am BST
Scotland 0-1 Morocco | Friday 19 June, 11pm BST
Scotland 0-3 Brazil | Wednesday 24 June, 11pm BST
Andrews believes the World Cup experience can have a long-term impact on both the players involved and the group as a whole.
“For the individuals that go, it’s a huge experience for them,” he said.
“It could be positive or negative in terms of results or how many minutes they get, but just the experience of going to a World Cup is massive.
“And for the ones who didn’t quite get there, that experience itself can be really motivating and incentivising towards their next chapter for their respective countries.
“That should all really align to us as a collective being in a better place moving forward as a club.”
Written by Adam Goodwin
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Video by Ally Mayerhofler
Photography by Jordan Rowsel
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