"These are exciting days. Not just for me, but for a whole nation, considering where they will spend their holidays this summer. It will be very exciting with that draw", says Sobakken in the podcast. But despite all the joy of having qualified Norway for their first World Cup since 1998 and all the excitement leading up to the draw, the former FC Copenhagen coach also says, that he would have preferred not having to go to Washington.
"I hate it. Brede Hangeland (assistant) has taken care of all the draws so far. The Nations League, the European Championship qualifiers, Brede has taken everything. He really really wants to be part of this, and we agreed that he should go, but now there is no way around it. The head coach must be there", says Solbakken.
Solbakken says in the interview that the other member of the delegation from the Norwegian Football Association are traveling to the USA on Wednesday 3 December, while he postpones it until the day after. He wants everything done in the shortest possible time.
Solbakken says that he strongly dislikes FIFA events with red carpets, glitz and glamour.
"I've never liked it at all... Firstly, I'm terrible at "small talk". Secondly, this does not interest me in any way. It doesn't. I would really like to lie on the sofa with snacks and Pepsi Max and watch the draw, instead of sitting in that hall. But it won't be like that."
According to Solbakken, FIFA has clear guidelines as to who from each participating country can take part in the World Cup draw.
"There must be one delegation leader, one administrator, one security manager, one media person, one handyman, etc... Then someone from the federation will remain in the USA depending on where we are drawn, to find our "base camp" and all that. But I'm going home", he says.