Erling Haaland has turned the pressure onto England before Norway's quarterfinal against them in Miami, saying the favorite should carry the weight when the teams meet on Saturday at 18:00 Argentine time. The Norway striker said England is the favorite and told journalists they should put all the pressure on the English.
That matters because Norway is already in its first World Cup quarterfinal after eliminating Brazil, and Haaland has been the face of the run. He has scored seven goals in four matches, including two against Brazil in the round of 16, and he said the task in front of Norway is still a huge one. Haaland said Norway has a very low chance of winning the World Cup, even after the team moved through Group I in second place and pushed past Costa de Marfil and Brazil on the way here.
His comments also fit a view he has held for months. In a 2025 interview with Time, Haaland said Norway had 0,5% chances of winning the World Cup and said Norway would never win the tournament. That is why his praise for England as the side under pressure lands with extra force now: Norway has already gone further than almost anyone expected, but he is not pretending that changes the numbers.
Haaland said the moment still feels unreal. He said he did not expect to be in the World Cup quarterfinals with Norway and called the victory over Brazil and the next step against England in the United States very special. He also said it is personal for him because he was born in Leeds when his father Alfie played in England, and added that facing teammates would make it a fun match.
The collision between belief and reality is what gives this game its edge. Norway has already broken new ground, but Haaland is still describing the matchup in the plainest way possible: England is expected to advance, and Norway is the side trying to turn an upset run into something even bigger. On Saturday in Miami, the question is not whether Norway has earned its place. It is whether Haaland can make one more favorite carry the wrong kind of pressure.
