Haaland's Norway face England in World Cup quarter-final

Erling Haaland was not yet born the last time Norway competed at a World Cup. Now, by helping his nation reach the quarter-finals of their first World Cup since 1998, the 25-year-old has not only achieved a personal milestone but fulfilled a mission he has carried for years. England, the country of his birth, now stand in his way.

Haaland's journey to stardom

The hopes of the Scandinavian nation rested on Haaland long before he scored 16 goals across eight matches in a dominant qualifying campaign, and then seven in four appearances at the tournament proper. This was the case even before he became the fearsome Manchester City striker he is today. Those hopes can probably be traced back to when, in his early teens, his talent was spotted at Norwegian side Bryne and fast-tracked through their youth teams.

That talent grew and promise intensified during a club career carefully crafted to suit Haaland. Now, having won everything to win in club football with City, he is fulfilling his destiny for the national team too. But things could have looked different. Born in Yorkshire, the forward was eligible to play for England. However, his affinity with Norway meant there was little chance of that happening, even if it meant the chances of winning something at international level—or even regularly reaching tournaments—were slim.

Choosing Norway over England

When then England manager Gareth Southgate was asked in 2020 whether there was a chance Haaland might have played for the Three Lions, he shut it down quickly. "With players like him, they're quite clear where they want to play," Southgate said. "He feels that allegiance to the country that he's playing for now and you're always very respectful of that."

Haaland was born in Leeds—where his father Alf-Inge was still based, having just left Leeds United for Manchester City—in 2000. The family moved to Bryne in Norway three years later following his father's retirement through injury. The young Haaland's talent was spotted early and he quickly moved through the youth teams at Bryne before signing for Molde in 2017, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Solskjaer helped turn Haaland into an attacking force and has often spoken highly of his former player, expressing regret that he could not sign him when he became manager at Manchester United.

Club career and international impact

The young forward caught the eye during his time at Red Bull Salzburg before his spell at Borussia Dortmund—where he formed a close friendship with England's Jude Bellingham—really announced him on the world stage. His move to Manchester City came in 2022, a transfer many felt had been inevitable given his father's history and his own love of English football. Yet even with his rapid ascension to stardom, Haaland continues to return to Norway frequently, where he owns several properties.

"Despite Haaland's global superstar status, he remains the exact 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 makes himself available to the Norwegian press when representing his country."

Haaland has discussed his desire to run a farm in his home country when he retires and can frequently be spotted strolling around Oslo, where he owns an apartment.

Quarter-final clash with England

After scoring twice to oust five-time winners Brazil in the last 16, Haaland will be looking to end England's hopes of a 1966 repeat when Norway face them in Miami on Saturday. The match pits a global superstar from a nation of just 5.5 million against the country of his birth, with a semi-final berth at stake.