The small Norwegian town of Bryne is buzzing with excitement as its most famous son, Erling Haaland, prepares to lead Norway against England in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. The Manchester City striker, who grew up in this farming community near Stavanger, has become a global football icon, and his hometown is reveling in his success.
Olinda Haaland, who runs a fabric shop in Bryne's central square and shares the Haaland surname (though no relation), said the town's pride is palpable. "It's been pure joy," she said of Haaland's rise. "We all love him so much and he's doing so much for Bryne." Her shop, surrounded by red hats, No. 9 shirts, and Haaland action toys, has seen a steady stream of customers seeking Haaland merchandise. Retro World Cup shirts from 1998, the last time Norway qualified, sold out in two days.
Haaland's Roots and Impact on Bryne
Haaland, born in Leeds where his father Alf-Inge played for Leeds United, moved to Bryne as a child. The 6ft 4in striker, who has scored 62 goals in 54 senior international matches, still visits his old haunts and donates football equipment to local children. In the autumn, a rare 16th-century book of Viking sagas he bought will arrive at the local library.
Andreas Vollusund, Bryne's mayor and Haaland's former schoolteacher, highlighted the striker's impact. "We are proud of the little boy who has grown into a huge Viking," said Vollusund, wearing a Haaland shirt. "Now Bryne is the capital of Norway, not Oslo. When he speaks about his home town, you can see in his eyes he loves his homeplace."
From Childhood to Stardom
Vollusund, who taught a 10-year-old Haaland, recalled his early focus. "He was funny, loved joking, had lots of energy, loved sports, loved football. When he was 10, he said he was going to be a footballer. He was very focused." The mayor credited Bryne's hard-working farming culture and Haaland's parents (his mother was a national heptathlon champion) for his success. "We have a culture to have fun with our kids, work hard. Our feet are on the ground."
Norway's focus on fun in youth sports has nurtured talent across disciplines, including football, handball, athletics, and skiing. Haaland's only known sporting weakness is chess, according to Kjell Madland of Norway Chess, which Haaland has invested in. "I don't think he's very good but he likes to play," Madland said.
Community Celebration and Togetherness
On Saturday, Vollusund will serve hotdogs to 3,000 children and families at an alcohol-free screening of the match at Bryne's football stadium. "We're doing what we can to make this a big, big event," he said. Haaland's influence on young people is immense. "Everyone looks up to him. He has shown you can come from a small town like Bryne and be the best player in the world."
Gabriel Høyland, Haaland's great uncle, plans to watch from his farm outside Bryne and called the game "wide open." Norway's World Cup journey is "quite remarkable," he said. "We have never experienced this kind of atmosphere any time."
Visitors from Oslo, like 10-year-old Emilian and his brother Leander, seven, posed in front of a Haaland mural in the town center. Their father, Christopher Gundersen, said, "It's bigger than football. The whole country is coming together. It has had a huge impact."
Early Talent Recognized
Alf Ingve Berntsen, who coached Haaland from age eight at Bryne FK, recalled his early passion. "He was quite similar to how he is now. He was funny, smiling, scoring lots of goals. At that level you can see it is glowing. It's a fire, it's passion." Berntsen noted that the World Cup has united Norwegians. "It's brought a kind of togetherness. Not just in Bryne but all over Norway. It's amazing."
