Erling Haaland addressed Norway supporters with a personal message after the country’s exit from the 2026 World Cup, describing the tournament as a formative experience despite the team’s defeat in the last eight.
Norway fell to England 2-1 after extra time at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, ending the country’s first World Cup campaign since 1998 and only their fourth appearance in the competition’s history.
Speaking to reporters in statements carried by FIFA, Haaland said: “What I lived feels like a dream. This tournament changed me as a person. I feel like I’ve grown. It’s hard to take in everything that happened, but the most beautiful thing is to be part of an event that I once watched from the stands and now live on the pitch.”
The Manchester City striker added that he felt pride reflecting on what the squad had produced across the competition. “I feel very proud, and I’m moved when I think about the performance we put in and the spirit of unity and joy that Norway experienced throughout the tournament,” he said.
Norway’s run, while ending at the quarter-final stage, stood among the more memorable campaigns in the country’s World Cup history. Haaland finished the tournament among its leading scorers.
