The Manchester City forward was born in Leeds but decided to represent Norway, earning 43 caps.
Erling Haaland will wear a different name on the back of his Norway shirt in subsequent matches.
Haaland, 25, was born in Leeds while his father, Alf-Inge, was playing for Premier League club Leeds United in July 2000.
The family returned to Bryne, Norway, in 2004, where Haaland grew up and began playing football locally before entering Bryne FK’s academy at the age of five.
Despite being eligible to play for England due to his birthplace in West Yorkshire, the striker has already represented Norway’s Under-15 team internationally by 2015.
“I lived here [England] for three-and-a-half to four years, and I lived in Norway for such a long time, so then it was natural for me to choose Norway,” Haaland stated on the 2023 edition of Box to Box.
“You never know what would have happened if my father had played in England for longer. Maybe I’d be English, I’m not sure. But yes, I am Norwegian, and I am proud of it.”
The City attacker has already scored 42 goals in 43 appearances for his country and will undoubtedly be looking to help his team reach their first World Cup since 1998.
Norway currently leads Group I, having won all four UEFA qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
“If we qualify for the World Cup, it would be like another big nation winning it,” Haaland told TIME earlier this year.
“It’d be the largest celebration ever. Scenes from Oslo would be fantastic.”
When asked about Norway’s chances of winning the World Cup, he was bluntly honest.
Haaland said, “I don’t want to be that guy who says the USA will never win the World Cup and then they win it.”
“So there’s a one percent chance they’ll do it. Norway has 0.5.”
The team will play a friendly against Finland in Oslo on September 4 before continuing their qualifying campaign against Moldova on September 9.
Ståle Solbakken named several Premier League talents, including Haaland, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, Fulham midfielder Sander Berge, and City prospect Oscar Bobb, to his side for the fixtures.
During the games, Haaland’s uniform will undergo substantial changes.
The name ‘Haaland’ is printed on his City shirt; but, during upcoming international matchups, his middle name ‘Braut’ will appear on the back of his jersey with his customary surname.
xz
