While shining with Norway in the 2026 World Cup, an old video of the forward went viral again and surprised millions of people by revealing that the pronunciation of his last name is not the one that became popular in most countries
Far from appearing uncomfortable, Haaland responded with total ease and explained that he had no issues with the way he is usually called outside of Norway. "If you're not in Norway, you can say Erling Braut Haaland", he replied with a smile.
But when the journalist wanted to know how it should be pronounced in his native language, the footballer made a clarification that surprised even many of his followers.
As the forward explained, the Norwegian pronunciation is quite different from the one that has become common in much of the world.
Approximately, his last name sounds like "Jo-lan", as the letter H is very softly aspirated, with a sound similar to a J in Spanish. Additionally, the vowel "å" is pronounced like an open "o" and the final "d" is hardly heard.
For this reason, the way journalists, commentators, and fans usually refer to him is quite different from the original pronunciation used in Norway.
The video has gone viral again in recent hours, and many users acknowledged on social media that they had been mispronouncing the last name of one of the greatest figures in world football for years.
Erling Haaland is not only making headlines for his extraordinary performance on the field. Amid Norway's historic presence in the 2026 World Cup, an old video of the forward has resurfaced on social media, generating a wave of comments over a detail that went unnoticed for years: almost everyone mispronounces his last name.
The Norwegian national team striker is experiencing one of the best moments of his career. His goals were crucial for Norway, absent from a World Cup since France 1998, to reach the quarter-finals after eliminating Brazil in an unforgettable match held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Now, the Scandinavian team will seek to continue making history when they face England for a spot in the semifinals.
However, while fans analyze his statistics and performances, an old interview has once again captured the attention of millions of users on TikTok for a completely different reason.
The recording corresponds to an interview conducted a few years ago, in which a journalist decided to ask him how his name should be pronounced correctly to avoid mistakes in sports broadcasts.
"We want to know how to pronounce your name. It is very important for us, who work in digital media. How should we pronounce your name on television and radio?", she asked him.
