Erling Haaland’s World Cup adventure might have ended in disappointment, but the Norwegian striker still managed to steal the spotlight. Just a few days after Norway's quarterfinal loss to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Haaland made his way back home with something that turned heads, a Rs 72,000 ‘Whiskey Raccoon’.
As Norway’s team landed in Oslo on July 13, cameras caught the Manchester City star stepping off the plane with what appeared to be a raccoon clutching a whiskey bottle under his arm. The bizarre sight left fans puzzled at first and ignited a flurry of chatter online, proving once again that Haaland knows how to keep himself in the limelight.
The mystery, however, was quickly solved. The object was a taxidermy-style ‘Whiskey Raccoon’ purchased by Haaland from Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas during Norway’s stay in the United States. Sharing the moment on X, the striker joked, “It followed me home.”
He later invited fans on Instagram to help name the souvenir, turning the unusual purchase into another social media talking point.
Norway’s Incredible Journey in FIFA World Cup 2026
While the raccoon made headlines, it was Norway's performances on the pitch that truly stole the show this summer. Making their World Cup debut in nearly thirty years, the Scandinavian team delivered their best tournament run ever by reaching the quarterfinals. They kicked things off with a solid win against Iraq and then managed to edge past Senegal in a thrilling match, securing their spot in the knockout stage despite a tough loss to France in their final group game.
In the knockout rounds, Norway showcased a different side of their game. Against Ivory Coast in Dallas, they relied on patience and strong defensive play to stay in the match, with a late strike from Haaland sealing the victory. The round of 16 brought their biggest upset, as Norway shocked Brazil with a 2-1 win, one of the tournament's biggest surprises, thanks to two crucial goals from Haaland that propelled them into the quarterfinals for the first time.
Their journey came to an end against England after a tense extra time battle, but not before they pushed one of the tournament favorites to the brink. Norway even took the lead during the match and had another goal disallowed after a VAR check. In the end, England found the winner late in extra time, clinching a 2-1 victory.
Even in defeat, Norway garnered admiration for their bold style of play. Haaland wrapped up the tournament with seven goals in five matches, finishing among the top five scorers and solidifying his status as one of the standout players of FIFA World Cup 2026.
