Norway striker Erling Haaland has explained why he wears “Braut-Haaland” on the back of his national team jersey instead of simply “Haaland,” the name he uses at club level.
The 25-year-old, who made his FIFA World Cup debut against Iraq earlier this week, scored twice as Norway cruised to a 4-1 victory at Boston Stadium.
While fans are accustomed to seeing “Haaland” on the back of his shirt for Manchester City, the striker opts for “Braut-Haaland” when representing Norway.
According to reports, “Braut” is the surname of his mother, Gry Marita Braut, and its inclusion is a tribute to both sides of his family. The double surname also reflects a Norwegian naming tradition in which people commonly use both maternal and paternal family names.
Haaland had previously used the double surname during his early professional career with FC Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund. However, he later dropped “Braut” at club level and has since been known simply as Haaland.
Norway’s appearance at the 2026 World Cup marks the country’s first participation in the tournament since 1998 and only the fourth in its history.
Haaland’s brace against Iraq also reportedly sparked unusual scenes back home, with Norwegian seismologists recording vibrations linked to celebrations by supporters.
Research organisation NORSAR said its seismic station in Bergen detected ground vibrations that coincided with Haaland’s goals.
According to the organisation, the signals were likely caused by the collective cheering and movements of large numbers of fans watching the match.
Norway and Haaland will return to action on Monday, June 22, when they take on Senegal national football team in their next World Cup fixture.
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