Erling Haaland Wins Hearts, Americans Call for Full Citizenship After World Cup

Erling Haaland has won over the hearts of Americans after his impressive performance at the 2026 World Cup. The Norwegian striker became a popular figure among the American people, and his team's 'Viking Row' took over sports stadiums and even Times Square in New York.

What happened?

Haaland's team, Norway, was knocked out of the World Cup last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by England after extra time. Following the game, they flew back to their country, at which point Haaland revealed his strange souvenirs: some taxidermied animals, one of which was a raccoon.

Why it matters for Erling Haaland

The Norwegian striker's performance at the World Cup has made him an honorary American, with fans calling for him to be granted full US citizenship. Barstool Sports shared a clip from Haaland's official Snapchat account, in which he is showing off his souvenirs. In the caption of their post, they wrote that 'At this point, Erling Haaland is an honorary American'.

What comes next?

The Manchester City striker may not be back in America anytime soon, but once he is at the end of his career, Haaland may well want to follow in the footsteps of other great players from Europe and move to the MLS when he's in his late 30s. Fans are now eagerly waiting to see if Haaland will take up the offer of US citizenship.

And it seems that Haaland has already gained a special place in the hearts of Americans. One fan tweeted: "Not honorary… full citizenship, no stipulations." Another added: "Just give him an American passport," while a third commented: "The passport is basically in the mail." A fourth added: "Just give him citizenship status already." "I'm crying. He's the greatest American I think I've ever seen, and he's Norwegian," tweeted a fifth. Another replied: "Bro scored so many goals in America's favourite sport of complaining about him; he earned citizenship." While a seventh suggested: "President Trump needs to make Erling Haaland an American and then appoint him Secretary of Transportation."

The World Cup may be over for Haaland's team, but it seems that his performance has only just begun to make waves in the world of football.

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