Erling Haaland 'changes his name' as Norway make official announcement on Man City star
Erling Haaland will display another name on the back of his Norway shirt during the national team’s upcoming matches.
Haaland, 25, was born in Leeds when his father, Alf-Inge, was playing for Premier League side Leeds United in July 2000.
Then the family moved back to Bryne, Norway, in 2004, where Haaland was brought up and began playing football locally before joining Bryne FK’s academy at age five.
By 2015, the striker had already represented Norway’s Under-15 side at international level despite being eligible to play for England due to being born in West Yorkshire.
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"I lived here [England] for three-and-a-half to four years, and I lived in Norway for such a long time, so then it was natural for me to choose Norway," Haaland said on Box to Box in 2023.
"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."
And the City forward has since registered 42 goals in 43 appearances for his country and will no doubt be hoping to help his side reach their first World Cup since 1998.
As things stand, Norway sit top of Group I, winning all four of their 2026 World Cup UEFA qualifiers.
“If we would qualify for the World Cup, it would be like another big nation winning it,” Haaland told TIME earlier this year.
“It would be the biggest party ever. Scenes in Oslo would be incredible.”
When asked about Norway’s chances of winning the World Cup, he was brutally honest.
Haaland admitted: “I don’t want to be that guy that says the USA is never going to win the World Cup, then they actually win it.
“So there’s a 1% chance they’re going to do it. Norway has a 0.5.”
The side will return to action with a friendly against Finland in Oslo on September 4 before resuming their qualifying campaign against Moldova on September 9.
Several Premier League stars, including Haaland, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, Fulham midfielder Sander Berge and City prospect Oscar Bobb, were named in Ståle Solbakken’s squad for the fixtures.
During the games, there will be a significant change to Haaland’s kit.
On his City shirt, the name ‘Haaland’ is printed, however, during the upcoming international fixtures, his middle name ‘Braut’ will accompany his usual surname on the back of his jersey.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Norway, Football, Premier League
Luke Davies