Haaland says pressure is on England ahead of World Cup quarter-final

By Rohan Gupta — 9 July 2026 — 7 min read

Norway striker Erling Haaland stated that all the pressure is on England as the two teams prepare for their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match on Saturday. Haaland, with a smile, encouraged the media to intensify the pressure on Thomas Tuchel‘s side.

Norway, who had not participated in a World Cup since 1998, has reached the final eight for the first time. Their journey included finishing second in Group I and then defeating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages. England, in contrast, has reached at least the quarter-finals in their last three men’s World Cups but has not made it to the final since their victory in 1966.

When questioned about the pressure, the Manchester City striker affirmed, “Yes, definitely. I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them.” He further urged journalists to “put every single pressure on the English lads.” Haaland also commented that England fans “should be confident of progressing, definitely. It’s England.”

The 25-year-old Haaland has scored in each of his last 14 competitive matches for Norway. He aims to continue this impressive run against the country of his birth, as he was born in Leeds when his father, Alf-Inge, moved from Leeds United to Manchester City. The quarter-final clash will take place in Miami on Saturday.

Last year, when Haaland was featured on the cover of Time magazine, he suggested that Norway had a 0.5% chance of winning the World Cup. However, his performance, including seven goals in four appearances and a double to eliminate Brazil in the last 16, has propelled Norway into the last eight.

Haaland expressed his surprise at Norway‘s progress, stating, “I didn’t expect it. To be honest, to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup is quite surprising even for me.” He described playing against Brazil as “kind of crazy” for Norwegians and noted that facing England in the quarter-finals in the USA is “quite special.”

He added that it is challenging to fully grasp the situation, suggesting players need to approach the game like a training session. Haaland believes that the scenes back in Norway indicate that this level of success is “not normal for Norway,” making it “super special.”

Haaland’s popularity in the US has grown during the tournament, attributed to both his on-field performance and his off-field personality. Shortly after scoring the winning goal against Ivory Coast in the last 32, Haaland was seen shopping for cowboy hats and boots in Dallas. A video of this trip on his YouTube channel garnered over six million views within five days.

He shared his positive view of Americans, finding them “hilarious” and “funny.” Haaland has been impressed with the World Cup experience in the US, from the games to the stadiums and training grounds, describing everything as “amazing.” Other videos show him attending the Stanley Cup final in North Carolina and leading his teammates in a “Viking row” celebration after their victory against Brazil.

Haaland emphasized the importance of enjoying the moment, stating, “I like to joke a little bit and I like to have fun. I think that’s a key to for my daily life to joke around and of course train good, of course focus well and prepare well but you also need to joke around and you need to enjoy the moment.” He concluded, “That’s what we’ve been doing now and just as we play in the World Cup, we have to enjoy it because nothing lasts forever. We have to just enjoy while we’re here.”

Nico O’Reilly, Haaland’s teammate at Manchester City, suggested that Haaland’s comments might be “mind games.” O’Reilly, who made his first-team debut less than two years ago, is now England‘s starting left-back at the World Cup and is expected to face Haaland in the quarter-final.

O’Reilly acknowledged Norway as a strong team, stating, “But look, they’re a good team as well. They have shown it through the whole tournament. It’s not just certain players we have to worry about – they’re good collectively. It’s going to be a good game and good battle.” He is well aware of Haaland’s finishing abilities, remarking, “Erling is Erling. We all know what he is like. He can score goals and is dangerous in the box. He is a real threat. They need to get him the ball. A lot goes into it.”

England assistant Anthony Barry echoed O’Reilly’s sentiments, highlighting that Norway is not solely reliant on one player. Barry noted their excellence in set-pieces and the threats posed by their frontline, with players featuring in major European teams. He specifically mentioned Odegaard, a Premier League winner and captain.

Barry added, “They’ve beaten some good teams to arrive where they are. It’s no shock and there’s no fluke at this stage of the tournament – whoever’s in the last eight with us deserves it, and they have our full respect.” He confirmed England‘s preparedness for the match, stating, “We’re prepared for the game. As I said, focus on Norway, and it’s step one of three.”

Historical Context of Norway vs. England

The upcoming match revives memories of a significant historical encounter between Norway and England. On 9 September 1981, Norway famously defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier, a result that became legendary in Norwegian football folklore.

The match was immortalized by the iconic radio commentary of Bjørge Lillelien, who, in a triumphant and emotional rant, declared, “We have beaten England! England, the birthplace of giants!” He then listed several prominent English figures, concluding with the memorable phrase, “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? I have a message for you, in the middle of your election campaign. I have a message for you … As they say in the boxing bars around Madison Square Garden in New York: your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!”

Lillelien switched to English for these final sentences, seemingly to ensure his message was heard. While some English observers might have found his elation excessive, given England‘s other losses in 1981 to teams like Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, and Brazil, the victory held immense significance for Norway.

At the time, England held a special place in Norwegian football fans’ hearts. Since November 1969, the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK had been showing live matches from the English first division during the winter months, when Norwegian football was on hiatus. With only one television channel available, English football became a staple for many Norwegians on Saturday afternoons.

Øyvind Alsaker, who will commentate on Saturday’s quarter-final for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, recalled growing up with these televised games. He noted that children would often pretend to be English football heroes like Kevin Keegan. This exposure led to many Norwegians developing strong attachments to English clubs, even less prominent ones. For instance, Gabriel Høyland, Erling Haaland’s great uncle, is a dedicated Burnley supporter, and Kasper Wikestad, who commentated on Norway’s recent win against Brazil, is a Norwich fan.

Wikestad described England and English football as a “dream” for Norwegians, a “promised land” that felt both close and distant. In 1981, Norway had not participated in a major tournament since the 1938 Olympics, making their victory against their footballing idols even more extraordinary. Lillelien, known for making even dull games exciting, became increasingly animated as Norway held onto their 2-1 lead.

His commentary included strong reactions, such as calling Phil Neal “a pig” after a tackle on Tom Lund. As the final seconds ticked away, Lillelien expressed frustration with the referee, Jerzy Kacprzak, before erupting in celebration when the whistle finally blew, declaring, “Norway have beaten England 2-1 at football! We are the best in the world!”

Today, the fascination with English football continues in Norway, with many young players aspiring to play in England. Alsaker described the current situation as “unreal,” particularly reaching the quarter-finals of a World Cup. He emphasized the profound meaning of playing England for Norwegians, stating, “For Norwegians, no opponent we face on a football pitch could ever mean more than England.”

Source: bbc.com