Erling Haaland is Norway's biggest star at the 2026 World Cup, with seven goals in five matches. The striker has been crucial in leading Norway to the quarterfinals, where they face England in Miami on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, according to a report from abcnews.com.
Norway currently sits second in the World Cup with six points, from two wins and one loss. The team has scored eight goals and conceded seven, for a +1 goal difference. They trail leaders France by three points. Their last result was a 1-2 loss to England on July 11, and they have lost their last two matches in a run of three wins and two losses. Haaland is the team's top scorer with his seven goals.
How is Haaland performing at the World Cup?
Erling Haaland has delivered an exceptional tournament for the Norwegian national team. In five appearances, the 25-year-old striker, born in Leeds but raised in Norway, has found the net seven times. Only France's Kylian Mbappé and Argentina's Lionel Messi have more, with eight each. Haaland made his international debut in September 2019 and has since established himself as one of the world's best. His physical frame of six feet four inches and a strict diet of roughly 6000 calories daily, including steak, fish, eggs, and raw milk, is part of his success. He ends each match with a signature meditation pose.
What's happening off the pitch?
Haaland's popularity stretches far beyond the football field. He has 60 million Instagram followers, and his teenage rap song 'Kygo Jo', remixed by DJ Kygo, hit number one on Norwegian Spotify charts this year. Kygo posted on Instagram that Haaland was a number one artist in Norway, which Haaland reposted to his stories on a Thursday. During the World Cup in North America, he also posted from Katz's Delicatessen in New York. His partner, Isabella Haugseng Johansen, speaks about his enormous appetite. "He eats so much and is consistently thinking about when is the next meal?" she said. Haaland also loves kebab, tacos, and brisket.
What does the quarterfinal against England mean?
Saturday's match in Miami is a historic meeting for Norway. The team has previously competed in three World Cups, with the Round of 16 in 1998 as their best performance. Erling Haaland's father, Alfie Haaland, played for Norway in the 1994 World Cup, where the team did not advance past the group stage. Now, his son has led the team to the quarterfinals for the first time. The clash with England is also a reunion with his former Premier League rival Harry Kane. The match airs live on Fox and Telemundo at 5 p.m. ET.
What is Norway's next step?
Regardless of the outcome in Miami, Norway has already made history in 2026. After the World Cup, the next national team fixture is against Denmark at home on September 24. Fans can follow the team's continued journey on our fixtures page and check the stats page for the entire squad. The success is built on a solid collective, where Haaland often leads the team in a celebratory viking row chant after wins. This is a team with both quality and personalities capturing worldwide attention.
