​In his first World Cup, Erling Haaland lit up the tournament by scoring seven goals and helping Norway reach its first ever quarterfinal. The 25-year-old forward also played a crucial role in ending his nation’s 28-year World Cup drought, following a sensational qualifying run that saw him net a record-tying 16 goals in just eight matches. Though Haaland and Norway’s World Cup journey ended on Saturday, there was little to dampen their spirits. Isabel Haugseng Johansen, Haaland’s partner, posted a heartfelt note that captured the mood of the country’s many fans, as translated by football writer Geronimo Morgans: “The fairytale is over for now, but we’ll carry the memories with us forever. I am always so proud of you ❤️,” she wrote, accompanying a photo of the couple embracing.
Haaland later reflected on what his team accomplished, saying that he and his teammates were most proud of putting Norway on the map—especially for younger fans who had never seen the Norwegians on the world stage. Speaking to The Athletic, he emphasized that while individual performances and even beating Brazil mattered, the real achievement was showcasing Norway to the world and the potential it unleashed. “The performances are one thing,” he noted. “Beating Brazil is one thing. But I think the way we have put Norway on the map is maybe the thing that touches me the most. I think with the ‘rowing,’ with how good people we are—our generation is amazing—and, yeah, with Norway on the map, hopefully now we can establish something when it comes to European Championships, World Cups and everything because our generation is amazing.”
Haaland conceded that a few refereeing decisions could have altered the path of Norway’s campaign, suggesting that they might be preparing to face Argentina in a world semifinal had those calls gone differently. Still, he carried no resentment and returned home with a lifetime of memories. “In the end, I’m just proud,” he affirmed. “I’ve been so proud every single day since we qualified, since being in the U.S., and… yeah. I don’t really know what more to say because I think I’ve spoken so much out here in the U.S. and I’m getting a bit fed up. So it’s now time to go on holiday.”
Meanwhile, Haaland’s father offered a starkly different reaction in the wake of Norway’s loss to England, accusing referees and FIFA officials of bias in favor of the English team. The match featured a disallowed Torino-style goal by Torbjørn Heggem after a VAR review, which ruled that Haaland committed a foul during the buildup. Replays, however, suggested the contact was minimal at best and not enough to warrant a foul. The Norwegians also felt aggrieved in the first half when Jude Bellingham’s goal was ruled valid even though the Sykcam system had been disabled after a long ball struck an overhead cable. Under FIFA rules, play should have been suspended and restarted. As the dust settled, Norway’s fans looked back on a campaign full of drama, controversy, and memorable moments, while Haaland and his teammates prepared to build on what they had achieved, with an eye toward the next European Championships and World Cup cycles.