Haaland turns up the heat on England
Erling Haaland has told England to embrace their status as one of the World Cup favourites, but insists the pressure is squarely on Thomas Tuchel's side ahead of their quarter-final clash. The Norway striker, who plays his club football for Manchester City, was speaking after his team's stunning 2-1 victory over Brazil, a result that set up a meeting with England in the last eight of the 2026 World Cup.
Asked whether England fans should stay humble, Haaland told Sky Sports News:
"I think everyone should stay humble - but they should be confident of progressing, definitely."
When pressed on where the pressure lies, the Norwegian was unequivocal.
"I think there are some clear favourites out there. I think England is one of them, so I think every single one of you should put pressure on the English lads!"
'A special game' for Premier League star
Haaland admitted that the fixture carries extra significance given his deep ties to English football.
"It's a special game, definitely. I think for me it's super special because I play in England and I'm born in England and you also play against team-mates and everything. So it's a bit, not weird, but it's a funny game and it's going to be nice."
The 25-year-old was born in Leeds during his father Alf-Inge's time with Leeds United, and has spent the last four seasons dominating the Premier League with Manchester City. He will face a number of familiar faces from the England squad, including club teammates.
Norway's unexpected journey continues
Few expected Norway to reach this stage, least of all Haaland himself.
"I definitely didn't expect this at all," he said. "I said it plenty of times before - even before the Brazil game I didn't expect - and I didn't expect us to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup. It's quite surprising even for me."
The Scandinavians have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, with their win over Brazil widely seen as one of the great World Cup shocks. Haaland described the experience as "crazy" and "quite special", noting the scenes back home.
"I think if you watch the scenes back in Norway [you can see] it's not normal for Norway."
Key Takeaways
- Erling Haaland says England should be confident of progressing to the semi-finals
- He believes the pressure is on Thomas Tuchel's side as they are the favourites
- The striker admitted Norway's quarter-final appearance is a surprise even to him
- Haaland's unique connection to England adds extra spice to the clash
- Norway shocked Brazil 2-1 in the previous round to set up the tie
Quick Facts
Fixture: Norway vs England
Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final
Venue: To be confirmed
Kick-off date: To be confirmed
Haaland's 2025/26 season: 38 goals in all competitions for Manchester City
