Erling Haaland said Norway’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has changed him as a person after the team’s run ended with a quarter-final defeat to England.Norway’s World Cup journey came to an end after a 2-1 extra-time loss to England. Despite the result, Haaland said playing on football’s biggest stage and representing his country was an experience he will always remember.“These things are surreal; I think this has changed me as a person. I think my profile has grown a bit, let’s put it that way, and… It’s hard to even process it all right now when I look back at the games, but it’s incredibly special to be part of an event like this – something I used to watch from the sidelines, and now I’m living it first-hand,” Haaland said, as per the FIFA website.He also spoke about the pride he felt in Norway’s performances and the support the team received during the tournament.“I feel immense pride, and I’m genuinely moved when I think about how well we performed, the sense of unity back in Norway, and the positivity and joy we’ve felt both there and here,” he added.Norway made a strong start in the quarter-final in Miami and took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup. Haaland also tested England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the opening stages.However, Jude Bellingham equalised in first-half stoppage time before scoring again in extra time after Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland spilled a Morgan Rogers effort into his path.England eventually won 2-1 to book a semi-final against defending champions Argentina, ending Norway’s best-ever FIFA World Cup campaign.The quarter-final was a milestone for Norway, who reached the last eight of the World Cup for the first time in their history after qualifying for the tournament for the first time since 1998.Despite the exit, Haaland had a productive tournament. The striker scored in all three group-stage matches and also found the net in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, finishing as Norway’s leading scorer with seven goals.
