Erling Haaland was decisive in Norway's historic qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, but once the match was over, he made it clear that the impact of the victory goes far beyond the sporting result.
After the 2-1 victory over Brazil, the scorer confessed that he still cannot grasp what his team has achieved and summed up his feelings with a phrase that reflected the magnitude of the moment: "It still doesn't seem real."
The forward explained that for years he believed that a team like Norway had no chance of eliminating a world power in a World Cup, although his team's performance ultimately changed that conviction. "I thought it was impossible, I was wrong," he acknowledged.
Beyond the qualification, Haaland considered that the victory represents a fundamental step for the growth of Norwegian football. He explained that the result strengthens the confidence of a squad that has shown constant evolution and sends a message to the new generations of footballers in the country.
The striker maintained that this achievement demonstrates that Norway can compete on equal terms against any national team in the world and establish itself among the most competitive teams on the international stage.
Despite the joy of qualification, the forward also highlighted the stature of the opponent and reminded everyone of Brazil's historical weight in the World Cups.
In that sense, he assured that the pressure was on the South American team and revealed what message he conveyed to the squad before the match: "The pressure was on them. Before the game, I told my teammates that we had to enjoy it. And that's what we did, we enjoyed the football."
