Norwegian star Erling Haaland confirmed that his country's extraordinary journey in the 2026 World Cup in North America succeeded in putting Norway "on the global football map," despite the painful elimination his team suffered on Saturday in the quarter-finals at the hands of England 2-1 after extra time, in an exciting match held at Miami Stadium.

In statements made in the mixed zone after the match, Haaland, who faced tight defensive marking from the English backline that halted his goal tally at 7 in the tournament, said: "We lost the match against England, but we certainly put up a strong and honorable performance."

The Manchester City striker added: "With some different refereeing decisions, it could have been completely different, but at this high level of competition, the small and precise details make the critical difference between winning and losing."

Haaland continued with a clear tone of pride: "The good performance is important, and the historic 2-1 win over Brazil in the round of 16 is another great thing, but I honestly think that the way we put Norway on the global football map is perhaps what affects me most and makes me proud," referring to the historic achievement of Norway's first ever World Cup quarter-final appearance.

The 26-year-old Norwegian star added with an optimistic look to the future: "I strongly hope now that we can build something real and sustainable for the upcoming European Championship and future World Cups, because our current generation is exceptional and has enormous potential."

After this unprecedented historic journey, Haaland emphasized that the achievement had a profound impact, saying: "I strongly believe that this journey changed Norway as a whole and also changed me personally. It was an unforgettable experience by all measures."

When asked which team he would support in the remaining stages of the tournament after his country's exit, Haaland replied with a smile and notable honesty: "Of course I strongly want England to succeed and go far in the tournament. I think I owned the England national team shirt before I owned the Norway one when I was a little child," referring to his emotional connection with English football.