Overview
- Norway were knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing 2-1 to England in extra time, a result reported from the quarterfinal in Miami on Saturday, July 11.
- Coach Ståle Solbakken said Haaland was substituted in extra time because he was exhausted and had suffered a 'dead leg,' a mix of fatigue and a knock that limited his effectiveness on the pitch.
- One day after the loss Haaland posted a brief farewell to the United States on social media, then flew to Norway and was photographed carrying a taxidermied 'Whiskey Raccoon' that he joked 'followed me home.'
- The raccoon appears to have been bought at Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, where the item quickly sold out and the shop turned on international shipping in response to demand.
- The tournament turned Haaland into a global cultural figure through goals, memes and videos, leaving Norway with its best World Cup finish and prompting fresh scrutiny of VAR decisions and player recovery in tight schedules.