Erling Haaland returned to Norway as a national hero after the team’s memorable performance FIFA World Cup campaign, but it wasn’t just the striker who caught everyone’s attention. As the Norwegian team arrived home to a rousing reception, Haaland was seen stepping off the team plane carrying a stuffed raccoon, an image that quickly went viral on social media.The Manchester City star embraced the joke. Reacting to the famous image on X, Haaland wrote: “He followed me home,” adding a raccoon emoji and a laughing face emoji.I didn’t stop there.Haaland also asked fans to help name his unusual partner through an Instagram Stories poll, offering four choices: “Cowboy”, “Ranger”, “TEX” and “ROW (Raccoon on Wheels),” the latter apparently a playful nod to the viral celebration of “Viking Row” in Norway that has become one of the moments of the FIFA World Cup.2026.
The light moment came when Norway received a hero’s welcome at home. More than 100,000 fans packed the streets of Oslo, turning the Norwegian capital into a sea of red, white and blue to celebrate the team’s historic campaign. The celebrations reached a climax when Crown Prince Haakon led a final ‘Viking Row’ celebration, beating drums as the players and thousands of supporters joined in unison, bringing the curtain down on Norway’s unforgettable World Cup journey.
Erling Haaland’s memorable World Cup campaign
In his FIFA World Cup debut, Erling Haaland scored 7 goals in 6 matches. He did not pick up a single yellow card, registering 14 shots on target.
| opponent | internship | Result | Score | Performance by Erling Haaland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | Group stage | won | 4-1 | 2 goals |
| Senegal | Group stage | won | 3-2 | 2 goals |
| France | Group stage | I lost | 1-4 | Rested (did not play) |
| Ivory Coast | Round of 32 | won | 2-1 | 1 purpose |
| Brazil | Round of 16 | won | 2-1 | 2 goals |
| England | quarter finals | Lost (AET) | 1-2 | Played 105 minutes (0 goals) |