England will face Norway and Erling Haaland in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals this weekend, with a place in the final at stake. Haaland has been in sensational form throughout the tournament, scoring consistently and sitting just one goal behind Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. The Manchester City striker poses a significant threat to England's defence, and keeping him quiet will be crucial if Thomas Tuchel's side are to progress in Miami.
Haaland's English Roots
Born in Leeds while his father Alf-Inge was playing in the Premier League, Haaland was eligible to represent England internationally. However, his family moved back to Norway when he was just three years old, and he grew up there before joining Austrian club RB Salzburg at 18. Haaland represented Norway at every youth level and famously scored nine goals in a single game against Honduras at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
In an interview with GOAL in 2023, Haaland explained his decision: "It was natural for me to choose Norway. You never know how it would be if maybe my father played longer in England or whatever. Maybe I would be English, I don't know. But yeah, I'm Norwegian, and I'm proud of it."
What If?
Had Haaland chosen England, the Three Lions would have boasted a striking duo of Haaland and Harry Kane, currently one goal behind Haaland in the Golden Boot race. Instead, England's defenders must now contain the 25-year-old goal machine. England fans may feel a pang of regret if Haaland replicates his last-16 performance against Brazil, where he scored a decisive goal.
The semi-final clash in Miami will be a test of England's defensive resolve, with Haaland aiming to close the gap on Messi and lead Norway to their first World Cup final.
