2026 World Cup: Erling Haaland urges pressure on England ahead of quarter-final

Norway striker Erling Haaland believes England are one of the favorites to win the World Cup outright, and with a smile he asked the media to put as much pressure on them as possible leading up to their quarter-final meeting on Saturday.

Norway had not hosted a World Cup since 1998, but reached their first eight in the finals after finishing second in Group I before beating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages.

England have reached at least the quarter-finals of the last three men’s World Cups, but have not reached the final since winning the tournament in 1966.

“I think there are clear favorites out there, one of which is England,” said Manchester City striker Haaland.

Speaking to reporters, he added: “I think you all have to put all the pressure on the English boys.

“Yes, father [England fans] I have to be sure of progress, definitely. England.”

Haaland, 25, has scored in each of his last 14 competitive games for Norway, and will look to continue his rivalry with the nation of his birth – he was born in Leeds, in the summer his father Alf-Inge left Leeds United for Manchester City – when they meet in Miami on Saturday (22:00 BST).

When Haaland appeared on the cover of Time magazine last year, he said that Norway had a 0.5% chance of winning the World Cup.

But seven goals in four games for Haaland – including two to finish Brazil in the last 16 – helped fire Norway into the last eight.

“I didn’t expect it. To be honest, being in the quarter-final with Norway in the World Cup is surprising for me too,” he added.

“Playing against Brazil was like crazy for us Norwegians and winning against Brazil and then going to play against England in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in the USA is something special.

“It’s difficult to take everything in because you need to just play the game as if it were a training session.

“I think if you look at the scenes back in Norway, this is rare for Norway, so it’s very special.”

Haaland’s popularity in the US soared during the tournament, partly because of his personality and exploits off the field, as well as his goals.

A few hours after scoring the winner in the last 32 against the Ivory Coast, Haaland went shopping for cowboy hats and boots in Dallas.

He recorded the trip for his YouTube channel, and the video gained more than six million views in five days.

“It’s a good thing because I like Americans, I think they’re funny people too. They’re funny, so I like the way they are,” he said.

“I think it’s just great. To be honest everything about the World Cup so far here has been amazing. From the games to the stadiums, everything has been amazing.

“The training ground where we train has been great, so I’m very happy and impressed.”

Other videos show him going to the Stanley Cup finals in North Carolina and leading his teammates in the Vikings’ lineup after defeating Brazil.

“I like to joke a little bit and I like to have fun,” she said. “I think that’s the key to my daily life to play and train well, yes focus well and prepare well but you also need to make jokes and you need to enjoy the moment.

“That’s what we’ve been doing now and since we’re playing in the World Cup, we have to enjoy it because nothing lasts forever. We have to enjoy it while we’re still here.”