Bent has managed to break through the 20-goal barrier for the Black Cats in the Premier League this season on Saturday.
“I want it more than anything, to play in the World Cup,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I scored a similar amount of goals four years ago and didn’t go and it’s funny that it could happen to me again this season.
“But Steve Bruce has been rooting for it 100 per cent and if I can keep going, do my talking on the pitch rather than off it, I might be there.
“I have scored a lot of goals this season but to go to a World Cup at the end of it would really top it off.”