Erling Haaland scored both goals as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium on 5 July, eliminating one of the tournament's five-time champions and sending Norway into a World Cup quarter-final against England in Miami on 11 July, their deepest run in the modern era. It continued a run in which he scored the winner against Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 on 30 June, having been rested entirely, along with captain Martin Odegaard, for a dead-rubber group defeat to France four days earlier.

Haaland joined Manchester City in 2022 from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million and rewrote the Premier League record books, scoring 36 league goals in his debut season, a single-season record. He has since won three Premier League titles and a Champions League with City, and in January 2025 signed a contract extension to 2034, the longest deal in the division's history. Born in Leeds in 2000 to footballer Alfie Haaland, he qualifies for Norway through his father.

His World Cup account opened with a brace against Iraq on 16 June, the same afternoon Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose's all-time scoring record, and he scored twice more against Senegal on 22 June to reach four goals in two matches and send Norway through to the knockout rounds for the first time since 1998. At 25, Haaland is now among the clear favourites for the Golden Boot and has been directly responsible for Norway's run to a first World Cup quarter-final in the modern era.

Common Questions

How many World Cup goals has Erling Haaland scored?

Haaland has scored in four of Norway's five matches so FAR: a brace against Iraq (16 June), a brace against Senegal (22 June), the winner against Ivory Coast (30 June) and a brace against Brazil (5 July).Source: Lowdown

What club does Erling Haaland play for?

Haaland plays for Manchester City, where he signed a contract extension in January 2025 keeping him at the club until 2034.

What is Erling Haaland's Premier League goals record?

Haaland has scored 107 Premier League goals in 126 appearances and set a single-season record of 36 goals in 2022-23.Source: NBC Sports

Why is Norway at the 2026 World Cup for the first time since 1998?

Norway qualified for the 2026 World Cup, ending a 28-year absence from the finals, with Haaland's prolific scoring central to the qualification campaign.

Did Norway reach the World Cup quarter-finals?

Yes, Norway beat Brazil 2-1 on 5 July, Erling Haaland scoring both goals, to reach their first World Cup quarter-final in the modern era, where they face England in Miami on 11 July.Source: Lowdown

Why was Erling Haaland rested for Norway's France match?

Norway made 10 changes and rested Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard entirely for their final group game against France on 26 June, having already secured qualification, to keep them fresh for the knockouts.Source: Lowdown

Source Material

Erling Haaland — Wikipedia Erling Haaland — Britannica

How the World Sees Them

Norway

Haaland is the country's most iconic footballer in a generation, whose World Cup debut was treated as a national event.

England

Premier League fans regard Haaland as the most clinical finisher the division has seen, a figure who warped goalscoring expectations in his debut season.

Rest of World

Global neutrals watch Haaland as the most credible long-term challenger to Messi and Ronaldo's scoring records.