Erling Haaland has called on Norway supporters to keep their feet on the ground despite the country's historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 — their first in 28 years.

The Manchester City striker made the remarks after scoring twice in a pulsating 3-2 win over Senegal, a result that carried Norway through to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Realistic ambitions

Haaland was candid about how far he believes his side can realistically go. "To qualify for the first time in 28 years and go through the group stage I would say, yes, is a good World Cup. To win the World Cup, absolutely not," he told reporters.

"I think we should be realistic here and be happy for every single Norwegian on the planet after this win," he added. "We've won 12 competitive games in a row now. I'm part of something special, making history and I'm extremely proud to be Norwegian."

A striker in unstoppable form

The numbers behind Haaland's international career are staggering. He has now scored 59 goals in just 52 appearances for Norway — a record that underlines his standing as one of the most lethal finishers in the game.

His current 12-game competitive scoring streak for the national side has yielded 24 goals, a run that has been central to Norway's push into the knockout rounds.

At the 2026 tournament itself, Haaland has been in devastating form, netting four goals across Norway's opening two matches. His brace against Senegal proved the decisive contribution as the Vikings progressed to the round of 32.

While Haaland is measured in his title ambitions, there is no doubting that Norway's historic participation — and their talisman's extraordinary output — has already made this a World Cup campaign to remember.