The Story Behind Erling Haaland Carrying 'Raccoon' All The Way Home From FIFA World Cup 2026

Erling Haaland returned to Norway from the 2026 World Cup carrying a $750 taxidermied raccoon holding a whisky bottle, purchased at a Texas store during the tournament.

NDTV Sports Desk
Updated: July 14, 2026 11:02 am IST
Read Time: 2 min

Norway's historic run at the FIFA World Cup 2026 may have ended in the quarter-finals, but striker Erling Haaland still managed to steal the headlines on his return home, thanks to an incredibly unusual travel companion he brought along from the United States. When the Norwegian team plane touched down at Oslo's Gardermoen Airport on Monday, fans were left stunned to see what Haaland was carrying. Stepping onto the red carpet, Haaland was seen cradling a USD 750 taxidermied raccoon clutching a whisky bottle under his other arm.

The Manchester City striker also shared photos of his airport arrival on social media with the simple, hilarious caption: "It followed me home."

Link to tweet

But how did Haaland end up flying across the Atlantic with a stuffed forest animal?
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