Erling Haaland Returns Home to Norway From USA With... A Taxidermy Raccoon

July 14, 2026

If there was an award for the most American World Cup souvenir, Erling Haaland may have just won it.

The Norwegian soccer superstar was photographed arriving back home in Oslo after the FIFA World Cup carrying a $750 taxidermy raccoon, instantly creating one of the funniest images to come out of this year's tournament.

Even Haaland couldn't resist poking fun at the unusual purchase.

"It followed me home," he joked.

Norway's impressive World Cup run came to an end after a hard fought quarterfinal loss to England, but Haaland clearly wasn't leaving the United States empty handed.

Instead of bringing home another jersey or a piece of sports memorabilia, he chose something that no one expected.

A taxidermy raccoon.

The bizarre souvenir quickly spread across social media, with fans calling it one of the most random and hilarious airport arrivals they've ever seen.

The photo is just the latest reason Haaland has become one of the most talked about athletes in the world.

Already regarded as one of soccer's most dominant strikers, the 6 foot 5 Norwegian has built a reputation not only for scoring spectacular goals, but also for his dry sense of humor and willingness to laugh at himself. During the World Cup in the United States, he became one of the tournament's biggest personalities, regularly creating viral moments both on and off the field.

Whether he was interacting with fans, joking with teammates, or making headlines with his larger than life personality, Haaland seemed to embrace every part of the American experience.

 

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