Alf-Inge Haaland Expresses Disappointment Over Norway's World Cup Exit

Alf-Inge Haaland, former Norway international, expressed his disappointment after Norway's 2-1 loss to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. He felt the team was 'robbed' during the match. Despite the exit, Erling Haaland had a stellar tournament, scoring six goals. This quarter-final marked a historic achievement for Norway, as it was their first appearance in the last eight since 1998. The team's journey rekindled football enthusiasm in Norway after a long absence from the World Cup.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 12, 2026, 15:16 IST

Norway's Heartbreaking Quarter-Final Loss

Alf-Inge 'Alfie' Haaland, former Norway international and father of star striker Erling Haaland, voiced his frustration following Norway's exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team suffered a 2-1 defeat to England in the quarter-finals, which he described as a situation where they were 'robbed'.

In response to a tweet from English sports journalist Henry Winter, Alfie remarked, 'Really? Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today.' Winter had previously commended England's Jude Bellingham for his equalizing goal, noting how Norway fans had been singing about England's departure from the tournament.

Bellingham's Impact on the Match

Norway initially took the lead in Miami with a goal from Andreas Schjelderup, following a strong start where Erling Haaland also challenged England's goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford. However, Bellingham equalized just before halftime and later scored again in extra time after a mistake by Norway's goalkeeper, Orjan Nyland. England's victory secured them a semi-final match against Argentina, ending Norway's remarkable World Cup journey.

A Historic Achievement for Norway

Reaching the quarter-finals was a significant achievement for Norway, marking their first appearance in the last eight of the tournament. This was also their first World Cup since 1998, a year when Alfie Haaland was part of the squad that famously defeated Brazil in the group stage and advanced to the Round of 16.

Erling Haaland's Impressive Performance

Despite the disappointing exit, Erling Haaland had an exceptional tournament, scoring in every group-stage match as well as in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, totaling six goals to become Norway's top scorer.

England managed to stop Haaland from scoring, a feat no other competitive international team had achieved in over a year and a half. The last time he was held scoreless was against Austria in October 2024. Haaland's international record now stands at 62 goals in 55 matches, making him Norway's all-time leading scorer. Although he did not score in the quarter-final, his contributions were crucial to Norway's memorable World Cup run, which reignited football enthusiasm in the country after a 28-year absence from the tournament.