Erling Haaland Prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage

Haaland Gears Up for Crucial Match

Norway's striker Erling Haaland is intensifying his training as he prepares for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. He shared snippets of his training on social media, captioning it "Knockout mode loading," ahead of the Round of 32 match against the Ivory Coast scheduled for Monday (local time).

A Star-Studded Encounter

Recently, Haaland was spotted with Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott during the World Cup festivities. Although he missed Norway's last league match against France in Foxborough, which ended in a loss for his team, he took the opportunity to share a moment with Scott, gifting him a signed Norway jersey.

Haaland's Goal-Scoring Prowess

Haaland has been a standout player in the tournament, scoring two goals in each of his first two matches, totaling four goals. This remarkable achievement places him in contention for the Golden Boot and makes him one of only six players in World Cup history to score multiple goals in their first two appearances. His impressive performance includes a brace against Senegal, joining the ranks of legends like Guillermo Stabile and Harry Kane.

Looking Ahead to the Round of 16

Norway is set to face the Ivory Coast on June 30 in Arlington, with hopes of replicating their best-ever Round of 16 finish from the 1998 World Cup.