Erling Haaland talks about putting Norway on the World Cup map
Erling Haaland reflects on Norway’s unforgettable World Cup performance and what it means to put the country on the world stage.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – When the final whistle blew for England’s 2-1 win on Saturday, Erling Haaland wasn’t among the players kneeling on the pitch as they digested the result. Haaland was placed on the bench in his place.
The Norwegian star was sent off at the start of the second half of extra time and had to watch his team struggle against England without his assists or production. The 25-year-old also failed to score at Hard Rock Stadium. It was the first time Haaland failed to find the back of the net in an international match since 636 days ago, on October 13, 2024, when he played against Austria.
By Saturday, Haaland had scored seven goals in six World Cup games, firmly placing him in the Golden Boot race with the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Still, as the match against England wore on, Haaland’s energy waned. Every time he missed a chance to connect with the net, the opportunity to add to his total in his tournament debut fell into his hands like sand. And when he couldn’t get any closer to his goal, his running turned into jogging, then walking.
“He was finished, so it wasn’t a difficult decision to take him off. We probably should have taken him off 10 minutes ago, but he obviously had great talent at the World Cup,” Norway national team head coach Stole Solbakken said. “He used up all his energy and power from one play to the next. I think he stalled at times in the second half. So, coupled with the fatigue…he did the best he could.”
As Haaland trotted to the bench, it seemed like he and Norway were surrendering to the moment.
The Red and Blue couldn’t put anything together against England apart from a goal in the 36th minute of the first half. England’s Jude Bellingham tied the score at 1-1 with a controversial goal that reportedly hit the wire in the 47th minute, then added another goal in the 93rd minute to snuff out Norway’s hopes of a tournament dream.
Norway attempted 13 shots, but only four were on target. The football went high, low, wide – off-hand – and everywhere but the net. The Reds and Blues have always been painfully far from glory, reflecting how small the margins are at this stage. Haaland also had his goal erased by pushing a nearby defender.
“That’s what it is. You can’t do anything after that,” Patrick Berg said of a goal that might have hit the wire. “I think finishing 2-1 makes us feel like we accomplished it. But… it was a tough, close game to win. And they came out on top and we pushed on. We did everything we could.”
Haaland, who was smiling despite the loss, seemed to agree with Berg, calling Norway’s appearance at this year’s World Cup, their first in 28 years, “unrealistic.” The young star said he hopes Norway’s performance at the 2026 World Cup shows it is possible.
“I think that’s probably one of the most moving things for me is that we put Norway on the map. What I think about the (Vikings) line is how good of a people we are…I think that’s what really moved me. And we put Norway on the map,” Haaland said after the match. “Hopefully we can establish something in terms of the Euros, the World Cup and everything else, because our generation is great.”
Haaland is currently planning to enjoy a break after working almost non-stop. Still, he claims something is coming from Norway. This year, the Red and Blue have gone from being unknowns at the World Cup to being one of the most famous football teams, but that’s enough for Haaland.
“It’s kind of hard to accept this kind of show and rollercoaster of a situation over the last six weeks because there was so much going on, so much pressure and so many emotions. Again, I think this will change Norway. I think it will change me,” Haaland said. “At the end of the day, I’m just proud. I’ve been so proud every day here since I qualified.”
