Erling Haaland returns to Norway as a national hero after a memorable team 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 party, 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 accepted the joke. Reacting to the already famous photos of X, Haaland wrote: “I followed it home,” adding a raccoon emoji and a funny face emoji.He didn’t stop there.Haaland also asked fans to help name his unusual partner through a poll on Instagram Stories, which offered four options. “Cowboy,” “Ranger,” “TEX,” and “ROW (Raccoon on Wheels),” the latter of which appears to be a playful nod to Norway’s viral “Viking Row” celebration that has become one of the defining fan moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The sad moment came as Norway received a hero’s welcome back home. More than 100,000 fans thronged 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 came to a fitting climax when Crown Prince Haakon led a final “Viking Row” celebration, beating drums as the players and thousands of supporters joined together, bringing the curtain down on Norway’s unforgettable World Cup tour.
Erling Haaland’s memorable World Cup campaign
In his FIFA World Cup debut, Erling Haaland scored 7 goals in 6 games. He did not pick up a single yellow card, registering 14 shots on target.
| Opposite: | stage: | Result: | Points: | Performance by Erling Haaland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq: | Group Stage: | won | 4-1 | 2 goals |
| Senegal: | Group Stage: | won | 3-2 | 2 goals |
| France: | Group Stage: | Lost: | 1–4 | Resting (Not playing) |
| Ivory Coast | Round of 32: | won | 2-1 | 1 goal |
| Brazil: | Round of 16: | won | 2-1 | 2 goals |
| England: | quarterfinals: | Lost (AET) | 1–2 | Played 105 minutes (0 goals) |