At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, Haaland had his worst performance of the World Cup so far. During his 105 minutes on the field, he often appeared tired, covering only 8,9 km and completing 7 out of 16 passes.

Haaland's substitution while Norway was trailing England 2-1 was an unusual occurrence. Coach Stale Solbakken stated it was an easy decision as his player was exhausted and injured, even regretting not substituting Haaland earlier.

Norway striker Erling Haaland (9) looks dejected after their 1-2 loss to England in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, at Miami Stadium, USA on 11/7/2026. *Photo: AP*.

However, the explanation did not convince the media. "This has fueled much speculation about a mysterious problem that occurred", reported The Mirror, an English newspaper.

Meanwhile, former Republic of Ireland and Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino, who played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, stated that Norway had concealed Haaland's illness before the match. An infectious disease had reportedly swept through the Nordic team, similar to England midfielder Declan Rice, who was ill for three days before a match and could only play 45 minutes.

"At halftime, I received internal information that Haaland was not well", Cascarino told talkSPORT. "The coach hinted at his physical condition, and indeed, Haaland did not look well. He doesn't typically touch the ball much, but I was surprised by his lack of vitality".

Following these accusations, the Norway national team did not issue a response. Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reported contacting national team doctor Ola Sand to ask if Haaland was ill and received a one-word answer: "No".

After the loss to England, the striker, born in 2000, still joined his teammates at a Miami nightclub to watch rapper Flo Rida perform, appearing relaxed. By 13/7, the Norway national team returned home and was invited to a celebration at the Royal Palace.

Haaland met King Harald V. However, due to personal schedules, he and Sander Berge were unable to join the team for the celebration and a rowing ceremony with 90.000 fans. The incident caused controversy, but the Norwegian Football Federation defended the players' decision.

The 2026 World Cup marked Norway's return to the global tournament since 1998. Haaland played a major role, scoring 7 goals in 5 matches, including a brace in the 2-1 win over Brazil in the round of 16, leading Norway to their first quarter-final appearance.

The 26-year-old striker's performance made him one of the most beloved players at the 2026 World Cup. Haaland's social media followers surged, placing him second only to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, a breakout sensation.