Erling Haaland, the Norway national team striker, said his side had been completely transformed by their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Norway were eliminated from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage following a 2-1 defeat to England after extra time, in a tournament the team participated in for the fourth time in their history and the first since the 1998 edition in France.
The official FIFA website reported statements from Haaland, the Manchester City striker, who came off the bench before the end of the match. He took the microphone after the game to bid farewell to the Norwegian fans who had attended at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, and departed his first-ever World Cup with a smile.
The Manchester City striker said: "These things feel like a dream. I think what happened in the tournament changed me as a person, and I believe I have become somewhat greater in stature. It is hard to take in when I think back on the matches, but what is special is being part of an event like this that I used to watch from the stands, and now I am living it myself."
He added: "I feel immense pride, and I am truly moved when I think about the magnificent performance we put in, and the sense of unity in Norway, and the positivity and joy we felt both there and here."