Erling Haaland Wins Over American Fans With Personality and Goals

Erling Haaland, the Norwegian striker known for his prolific goalscoring, has become a cultural phenomenon in the United States during the FIFA World Cup. While he is already one of the world's highest-paid athletes and the Premier League's top scorer last season, many Americans have discovered him through his unfiltered social media presence.

Social Media Sensation

Haaland has gone viral for his goofy Snapchat stories, candid vlogs, and direct interactions with fans. He posts selfies using the Shrek filter, captioned "selfie with my twin," and replies to fans with crying-laughing emojis. In one instance, he accidentally misspelled Orlando as "Ornaldo" before apologizing to all the "perfect brothers and sisters out there" for his mistake, all while staring blankly into the camera.

His Instagram following has grown from 40 million to 60 million throughout the tournament. His vlogs, where he documents his adventures across America, have garnered several million views on YouTube. In one video, he visits Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas, Texas, to buy a cowboy hat and boots. "I'm looking forward to walking out on the street and doing this," he says while tipping his hat. For much of the video, he wears a T-shirt reading: "Y'all can kiss my Dallas."

American Fans Embrace Haaland

Americans have responded enthusiastically. "I had no idea who he was," said Juliana Hofmann, who lives in Millington, New Jersey. She discovered Haaland after Norway beat Brazil, and now her social media pages are full of his content. "The way he carries himself is amazing, because despite being one of the biggest stars in the world of football, he's so humble," Hofmann said.

"I think we should keep him!" one Texan commented on Instagram. "Texas looks good on you!" commented another. "We're all rooting for Erling Haaland," said Marie, an American woman attending a Norwegian celebration in Miami, Florida. "We've all fallen in love with him," she told BBC Mundo. "He's goofy and he's a beast."

"I'm entranced by Mr Haaland," said Miami resident Robert, speaking to BBC Mundo. "He's a machine, that guy. Terminator, move over." Robert organized a Norwegian-style "row" with 10 of his pickleball friends in Miami Beach on Friday morning, inspired by clips of the Norwegian team on social media. "For us Americans who don't know a lot about soccer... it's wonderful, he's amazing."

Haaland's Affection for America

The Norwegian striker also seems quite fond of America. "People are so nice here," Haaland said in one of his vlogs. "They're so positive. I don't know what it is, they're just enjoying life." "I'm definitely coming back here," he added.

At a recent press conference, Haaland was asked about his new American fans. "I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well," he said. "They are funny, I like the way they are."

Unexpected Cultural Moments

Haaland also engages directly with his fans, to their delight. One Instagram user posted a video of a spring onion with the text: "Am I losing it or does this green onion look like Haaland?" The footballer's comment—a GIF of a dog in a car, raising its eyebrows as the car window rolls up—has nearly 1.5 million likes. The spring onion comparisons have gained traction in unexpected corners of the internet. Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna asked her followers on X whether they would support Norway or England in the quarterfinals on Saturday. She then posted the spring onion video, writing: "Just so everyone knows where I stand," paired with a Norwegian flag emoji.

Will Haaland's American adventures continue? As the World Cup progresses, his popularity in the U.S. shows no signs of waning.