Erling Haaland returned to Norway as a national hero after the team’s memorable FIFA World Cup campaign, but it wasn’t just the striker who caught everyone’s attention. As the Norwegian squad arrived home to a rousing reception, Haaland was spotted stepping off the team plane carrying a stuffed raccoon, an image that quickly went viral across social media.The Manchester City star embraced the joke. Reacting to the now-famous pictures on X, Haaland wrote: “It followed me home,” adding a raccoon emoji and a laughing face emoji.He didn’t stop there.Haaland also asked fans to help name his unusual companion through an Instagram Stories poll, offering four choices: “Cowboy,” “Ranger,” “TEX,” and “R.O.W. (Raccoon on Wheels),” the latter seemingly a playful nod to Norway’s viral “Viking Row” celebration that became one of the defining fan moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The light-hearted moment came as Norway received a hero’s welcome back 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 fitting climax when Crown Prince Haakon led one final “Viking Row” celebration, beating the 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 debut FIFA World Cup, Erling Haaland signed off with 7 goals across 6 matches. He didn’t pick up a single yellow card, registering 14 shots on target.
| Opponent | Stage | Result | Score | Erling Haaland’s Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | Group Stage | Won | 4–1 | 2 goals |
| Senegal | Group Stage | Won | 3–2 | 2 goals |
| France | Group Stage | Lost | 1–4 | Rested (Did not play) |
| Ivory Coast | Round of 32 | Won | 2–1 | 1 goal |
| Brazil | Round of 16 | Won | 2–1 | 2 goals |
| England | Quarterfinal | Lost (AET) | 1–2 | Played 105 minutes (0 goals) |
