Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who was born in England and plays for Manchester City, admitted on Thursday that facing the Three Lions on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in Miami will be truly special.
Haaland, who has scored 7 goals so far in the global football festival, said: "It is something special because I play in England. I was born in England and I will be playing against some of my teammates, and honestly I feel a little uncomfortable." He added: "I am very happy to be playing at the World Cup. It is wonderful to be there and to be able to play on a big stage with my friends."
Four days after scoring both goals in Norway's 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16, Haaland reflected on the match, saying: "I did not expect it at all. I celebrated — even before the game against Brazil I did not expect it. My mother also celebrated; honestly, she did not expect us to reach the quarter-finals."
Haaland insisted that playing and beating Brazil "was crazy for the Norwegians, and then going to face England in the quarter-finals — it is unbelievable. If you look behind the scenes in Norway, it is not the usual Norway."