Erling Haaland: City’s 2026 World Cup Weapon or Norway’s Burden?

Let’s have it out, lads! I’m a footy nut who loves a striker debate, and Erling Haaland, that 6’4” Manchester City goal machine, is Norway’s 2026 World Cup hope—or potential flop. With 32 goals in 2024/25, TalkSport’s Jim White calls him ‘unstoppable,’ but Norway’s Group E (likely France, Netherlands) scares me. At 25, is he the answer, or will he buckle? I’ve seen big names like Zlatan struggle internationally, so I’m wary.

His stats—1.2 goals per game, 68% aerial duels, 22 shots on target—dominate, but Norway’s 2024/25 qualifiers (2nd, 15 points) show reliance on him. X rages: ‘Haaland’s a god!’ vs. ‘Norway’s doomed!’ His 5 assists lag behind Ødegaard’s 10, and their 4-2-3-1 lacks midfield steel—Østigård’s 6 goals conceded highlight it. I say he’ll bag 3, but they’ll exit in the round of 16, likely to France.

At City, his 32 goals from 40 shots (80% rate) is insane, but Norway’s 0.9 goals per game in qualifiers—Haaland’s 8 of 11—shows dependency. Defenders like Strandberg (4 clean sheets) can’t match City’s Akanji. I’ve tracked him since Molde, and his 2023 treble run was epic, but international pace exposes gaps.

Norway’s history—1998’s glory aside—is bleak. His 8 qualifier goals fuel hope, but 2024’s 2-1 loss to Scotland stings. I predict 3 goals, 0 assists, and a 2-1 exit.

This is his stage. With Haaland’s power, they might surprise—prove me half-right!