Erling Haaland has achieved remarkable success in his career, clinching two Premier League titles and the Champions League, alongside multiple individual accolades in Austria, Germany, and England. However, the Manchester City forward felt that something was still missing from his accomplishments.
In November, that void was filled during a 4-1 victory over Italy, as it secured Norway‘s qualification for the 2026 World Cup. This will mark Haaland’s debut in a major international tournament and Norway’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
Haaland contributed significantly to this achievement, netting 16 goals in UEFA qualifying—eight more than any other player—and scoring two quick goals in the decisive match at the San Siro.
As he prepares for the tournament this summer, Haaland shared with ESPN that failing to aid Norway’s return to soccer’s grandest stage would have left a significant gap in his illustrious career.
“Absolutely,” he affirmed. “I felt it was missing during the 2022 Qatar World Cup and also at the Euros in 2024. So now it has finally come to fruition, and it’s about time.”
“There was a lot of pressure, and it remains the same, but I have felt it growing since I joined the national team, the urgency to qualify for a World Cup. As my time here increases, so does the weight on my shoulders. Nevertheless, it’s even more rewarding that we accomplished it, and the feeling is incredible.”
“Qualifying for the World Cup is an extraordinary achievement. I can’t wait; it’s going to be amazing. Finally!”
The importance of this qualification resonates deeply with Haaland. Growing up in Bryne, located in southern Norway, he never had the opportunity to watch his country compete at a World Cup. His memories of the tournament mostly feature moments from other nations.
After making his international debut at 19 in 2019, he was part of the squad that failed to qualify for Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Euro 2024 in Germany.
By securing their first major tournament spot since the 1998 World Cup, Haaland and his teammates—including Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard and Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth—have given a generation of Norwegian football fans the chance to cheer for their own team.
“I’ve never witnessed Norway at a World Cup during my lifetime,” Haaland noted.
“I always wished they would qualify, but I have no personal memories of that. I am simply thrilled that we made it, allowing young Norwegian kids to experience what it’s like to support their country, and they will surely cherish these moments.”
“I recall the opening match in 2010 [between South Africa and Mexico] and James Rodríguez’s brilliance in 2014. You remember these World Cup highlights, and I hope we can now create our own incredible moments.”
“I aspire to create something special with the whole nation, and I hope we can achieve that together.”
Born in Leeds, England, in 2000, Haaland is the son of former professional player Alfie, who played for both Leeds United and Manchester City. Despite having the option to represent England due to his dual nationality, Haaland feels deeply connected to Norway.
Before heading to their training camp in Greensboro, North Carolina, Stale Solbakken’s squad participated in a unique send-off photo shoot, where players donned traditional Viking attire along the fjords of Norway.
The project, titled “The Vikings are coming,” holds special significance for Haaland, who values his cultural heritage. This March, he purchased a rare Viking manuscript for 1.3 million Norwegian krones ($136,000) to donate it to a Bryne library for public viewing. The book is the only surviving edition of a 13th-century historical work by Snorri Sturluson, printed in 1594.
“I take pride in being Norwegian,” Haaland expressed. “Norway has a rich history, and that was my motivation for the purchase.”
With the World Cup hosted in the U.S.—alongside Mexico and Canada—there’s a certain nostalgia for Haaland and his family.
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Erling Haaland enjoyed Game 5 of the Stanley Cup.
Alfie was a member of the Norway squad that qualified for the last World Cup held in North America in 1994, where Norway played twice in New Jersey—suffering a 1-0 defeat to Italy and drawing 0-0 with the Republic of Ireland.
Erling, on the other hand, will return to East Rutherford—though now to MetLife Stadium, instead of Giants Stadium—to compete against Senegal in Norway’s second group match.
“It’s definitely a special experience,” he stated. “It’s significant that my father also played in a World Cup for Norway, particularly in the U.S., which adds to the sentiment.”
“The objective is to have many family members come over and experience it in person, and he’s surely thinking about that too.”
Norway’s final group game, against France, has already been highlighted as one of the key matchups of the tournament.
Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, both global football icons, have squared off in club competitions during Champions League matchups between Manchester City and Real Madrid. They will meet for the first time internationally on June 26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
“I think we have a challenging group,” he remarked. “Every team in the World Cup possesses unique strengths that helped them qualify. It’s going to be tough.”
“Each match will be a challenge, and as we have seen in previous World Cups, there are often unexpected performances from teams that achieve remarkable feats, like Saudi Arabia did against Argentina in 2022.”
“They managed to beat Argentina, but Argentina went on to win the World Cup. The tournament is unique in that regard.”
Returning to the World Cup for the first time in nearly three decades, Norway is seen as dark horses by many neutral fans. Progressing past the group stage would surpass what Alfie’s team achieved in 1994 when they were eliminated in the first round, and reaching the Round of 16 would match their best-ever finish—last achieved during the 1998 World Cup when Solbakken was still a player.
Could this be Norway’s inaugural semifinal appearance?
Haaland, however, refrains from defining success for the summer.
“I haven’t put much thought into that, as my primary aim was to qualify,” he admitted. “Now, everything else will be a bonus.”
Having lived through a childhood of watching other teams, merely participating in the World Cup signifies that Haaland, the figurehead of Norway’s golden generation, has already achieved victory.