Erling Haaland Set for Norway World Cup Debut in 2026
Norway striker Erling Haaland will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country's first appearance in the tournament since his father Alfie represented the team in 1994.
Al JazeeraU.S. soil. The 25-year-old Manchester City striker won his third Premier League Golden Boot in four years this season, scoring 27 goals and recording eight assists in 34 matches.
Haaland discussed the family connection in an interview with ESPN on Monday. "Of course, it's a special thing," he said, adding that the shared history on American soil makes the occasion more meaningful. Alfie Haaland, born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1972, played professionally for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, and Manchester City as a right-back and midfielder.
He made his senior Norway debut in January 1994 in a friendly against Costa Rica and appeared in two matches at the 1994 World Cup, both at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Norway's 1994 group stage results included a 1-0 win over Mexico, a 1-0 loss to Italy, and a 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
The team finished fourth in the group on goals scored after all four teams ended with identical points and goal difference.
Norway's 2026 group stage schedule begins with a match against Iraq on June 16 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The team will face Senegal on June 22 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and France on June 26 back at Gillette Stadium.
Other prominent players expected at the 2026 tournament include Kylian Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot in 2022, Spain's 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, 38-year-old Lionel Messi, and 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
