World Cup 2026: Erling Haaland carries pressure of guiding Norway to first major tournament in 26 years

When then England manager Gareth Southgate was asked if there was a chance of Haaland playing for the Three Lions in 2020, he immediately hung up.

“It’s pretty clear where players like him want to play,” Southgate said. “He feels his loyalty to the country he plays for now and you are always very respectful of that.”

Haaland was born in Leeds, where his father Alf-Inge, who left Leeds United for Manchester City in 2000, still resides.

The family moved to Bryne, Norway, three years later after his father retired due to injury.

Young Haaland’s talent was recognized early and he quickly moved through the youth teams at Bryne before signing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-managed Molde in 2017.

He helped turn Haaland into an attacking force and has often spoken highly of his former player, expressing regret at not being able to sign him when he became manager of Manchester United.

The young forward turned heads and truly announced himself on the world stage during his time at Red Bull Salzburg, before his spell at Borussia Dortmund, where he formed a close friendship with England’s Jude Bellingham.

His transfer to Manchester City took place in 2022; many felt this transfer was inevitable given his father’s background and his love of English football.

Despite his rapid rise to stardom, Haaland continues to return frequently to Norway, where he owns many properties.

“Despite Haaland’s global superstar status, he’s still the same guy,” Norwegian football journalist Andreas Korssund told BBC Sport.

“He knows exactly where he comes from and regularly visits his small hometown in Rogaland. He is incredibly proud of his roots and always appears before the Norwegian press when representing his country.”

Haaland has said she wants to run a farm in her home country when she retires, and can often be seen wandering around Oslo, where she owns an apartment.

He is steeped in Norway’s Viking history and takes great pride in representing his country, as evidenced by the way he led his teammates on Viking Row after beating Brazil.

It is his closeness to his heritage that also leads him to bear the full title of Braut Haaland on the back of his national shirt. Braut is his mother’s maiden name, and it is a Norwegian tradition to combine it with his father’s name.

“Haaland means everything to Norway,” says Korssund.

“He has become an unprecedented superstar in the world’s biggest sport. For a country of more than 5.5 million people to produce one of the best football players on the planet is a huge thing.”