With the U.S. out of the World Cup tournament, many Americans, myself included, found myself cheering Norway, specifically because of its massive, Viking-like striker, Erling Haaland.
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Haaland, like most of his team, was indigenous to Norway. That was something different, given the internationalization of most of the best teams, take it or leave it.
But in the affirmative-action era, we don’t see a lot of big blonde Vikings in popular culture, either, so there was some fascination with the novelty, all the more so because this was in sports, which is the strictest meritocracy and image isn’t important. After all, no one cares what a good player’s color is, we like players who score goals (Haaland scored seven in this World Cup) and who deliver victories. Still, the image fascinated, particularly since not only did Haaland look the role, he seemed to live something of the Viking lifestyle, so lots of humorous Viking memes appeared in the run-up to Norway’s big appearance in the quarterfinals against England, which was Norway’s best showing in decades.
Norway’s World Cup star, Erling Haaland, looks like a genuine Viking.
Blonde hair, crazy eyes, 6‘5“ and runs like a deer.
Then you find out he loves red meat, organ meats and raw milk and it all makes sense.
Of course he does.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he rowed his teammates… https://t.co/qvLPYrFtkD pic.twitter.com/rYm2K3Fohm
— Cary Kelly (@CaryKelly11) July 3, 2026
I made a $200k Epic Viking Movie trailer in preparation of the World Cup match between Norway VS England.
Featuring Erling Haaland 🍿
4K Version below pic.twitter.com/YFPb0tHabs
— Solo 👑 (@Solopopsss) July 8, 2026
I must confess 🥰 I am suddenly liking football and team Norway. Erling Haaland is an athletic beast and his mates are amazing. 💯 The whole Viking thing is so cool! 😁 pic.twitter.com/1fRiGAFIlV
— 🇺🇸 𝓓𝓪𝓻 🇨🇦 (@DameScorpio) July 9, 2026
The Viking Haaland pic.twitter.com/0mHa2fA9m4
— LEGION (@LegionDagger) July 8, 2026
Erling Haaland put Brazil out of a World Cup on Sunday night. Here is everything that went into the body that did it, across one ordinary day.
He wakes and the first thing he does is get daylight into his eyes. Not a phone, not a coffee, sunlight, on purpose, for the circadian… pic.twitter.com/WF0CTfhXEY
— Sama Hoole (@SamaHoole) July 6, 2026
Erling Haaland, Norway’s large, maniacal striker, has several exceedingly Norwegian traits. He sometimes exercises by chopping wood in the forest. He consumes 6,000 calories a day. After training sessions, he drinks raw milk. He owns a tax-sheltered investment company in… pic.twitter.com/YDCq5RFI3B
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) July 12, 2026
But with Norway dispatched by England in the World Cup, based on, what I think was a bad call from the referees, and a teammate who, for whatever reason, (perhaps benign, or perhaps out of jealousy) didn’t pass the ball to Haaland …
So according to FIFA grabbing Haaland is “physical football,” but the second he pushes back it’s a foul? Makes sense. 👍 pic.twitter.com/0vzU4ZZlmK
— Frnk (@MC_frnk) July 12, 2026
🇳🇴 One decision Norway fans may never forget
New angle shows Alexander Sørloth choosing NOT to square it to Erling Haaland in a golden attacking moment.
That pass could’ve changed the entire game… and fans are losing their minds over what might have been.
Writer: Val…
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 12, 2026
This angle of Alexander Sørloth not passing the ball to Erling Haaland which could have put Norway ahead by 2-0 against England. Haaland looked visibly frustrated.
Norway are a team with mostly mediocre players, being carried through their games by the world’s best striker.… pic.twitter.com/pbCcVzWZgd
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) July 12, 2026
Norway is now out of the match.
But this wasn’t the end of the story: We got to see something better than just a Viking image from Haaland, we saw fine character:
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Here’s how he acted in the wake of the painful loss to England:
Erling Haaland is feeling proud after Norway’s efforts at the World Cup 🇳🇴💪 pic.twitter.com/oU26fGba1b
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 12, 2026
🇳🇴 Success and fame get to some heads.
Then there’s Haaland and an eternity reserved for obliging his fans.
Writer: Mhedipic.twitter.com/7cfDy0T5Ah
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 10, 2026
🇳🇴 Just Erling Haaland making some kids happy, how could you not love him?
Writer: Samuelpic.twitter.com/H9FupPfKRw
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 10, 2026
Thank you to Erling Haaland for teaching us what a healthy masculinity *really* looks like- kindness, friendliness, fun, being extremely tall and athletic and rich
— Conor Fitzgerald (@fitzfromdublin) July 7, 2026
And word is out that he loves America. Not in a fake way, not in a way that suggests commercial interests or public relations line-feeding. Sincerely, as an authentic Norwegian sees it:
How great is Erling Haaland! He truly loves America and is having the time of his life during the World Cup!
You know this drives the American hating leftists in this country batshit crazy pic.twitter.com/haOQCqOPLi
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) July 11, 2026
And he shows it, too:
🇳🇴 Erling Haaland went all in on a massive NY deli sandwich.
Norway’s goal scorer attacked it like it owed him money.
Pure joy in one bite.
Writer: Solpic.twitter.com/ws4CoFBuqS
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 28, 2026
“Dallas is amazing, unbelievable. It’s so nice. I’m coming back here, I’ll tell you what. The people are just so nice here, so positive. I don’t know what it is. They’re just like enjoying life. It’s amazing, so friendly.”
—- Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland, upon visiting… pic.twitter.com/JyFlnyejpm
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) July 12, 2026
How could anyone not be endeared by that?
Only someone who loves his own country can really love ours. This is as true of unvetted immigration as it is with a star soccer player from Norway:
Norway is a reminder that nations are not something to be embarrassed by.
A people with a strong sense of history, a shared identity, and the confidence to celebrate their country without apology. Rather than weakening them, it gives them cohesion. We’ve been told that national… https://t.co/l24C2ZB7Kv
— Kellie-Jay Keen (@ThePosieParker) July 12, 2026
He suffered terribly for the loss of the match, we know that, but he picked himself up for the sake of his fans and put on a class act, ensuring that all of us will be delighted to see more from him in the run-up to the next World Cup, which we hope Norway will be able to exceed itself in. This is a great sportsman and a wonderful reflection of his country’s image, which he clearly loves, too. Well played, Erling, we hope to hear more from you!
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Image: X video screenshot