Why did Erling Haaland add Braut to his Norway jersey at the 2026 World Cup? The story behind the change
Erling Haaland was the star of Norway's victory over Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. The Manchester City striker scored the decisive brace that secured a 2-1 win for the Vikings over Carlo Ancelotti's Seleção, sending Norway through to the quarter-finals, where they will now face England. The victory was celebrated with the now-iconic Viking Row, the celebration in which players and fans simultaneously mimic the motion of rowing a boat, all synchronized to the beat of a drum. After the match against Brazil, it was Erling Haaland himself who set the rhythm on the drum. Or rather, Erling Braut Haaland.
Why Braut appears on his jersey
Those paying close attention will have noticed that, for the 2026 World Cup, Haaland decided to change the name displayed on his jersey. For Norway's return to the World Cup 28 years after their last appearance, Haaland chose to add Braut, which can be considered his middle name. More precisely, it is his mother Gry Marita Braut's surname, which is part of his official registered name.
Haaland made the decision to add Braut to his jerseys in the summer of 2025, but only for occasions when he would officially represent the Norwegian national team. As a result, the name Braut Haaland had already appeared during the World Cup qualifying matches, including the two games against Italy.
The earlier change from Håland to Haaland
It is not the first time Haaland has altered his surname. There is, in fact, a fascinating story from the early days of his career. Technically, his surname is spelled Håland, using the letter å, the final letter of the Norwegian alphabet. Since that character is difficult to reproduce in many parts of the world, his first agent, Mino Raiola, convinced him to adopt the more internationally accessible spelling. This made his surname easier for journalists to write, more immediately recognizable, and ultimately helped increase his publicity.
