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Erling Haaland brings taxidermied raccoon back to Norway after saying 'goodbye' to US World Cup run
MSN ^ | July 13, 2026 | Natasha Dye

Posted on 07/13/2026 6:19:53 PM PDT by DoodleBob

Erling Haaland and his taxidermy raccoon have touched back down in Norway after a sensational performance in his first FIFA World Cup “It followed me home,” Haaland joked in a post on social media after fans quickly circulated the photos of the Norwegian soccer star with his new decor.

“It’s been quite a row, thank you for making it so special,” Haaland wrote in a post on X after Norway’s quarterfinals defeat by England Erling Haaland and his raccoon are back in Norway after the soccer star delivered a career-changing World Cup performance.

As Haaland, 25, touched down back in his home country after Norway lost to England in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, July 11, fans noticed the athlete — who became the talk of this year’s tournament — was returning to Oslo with a taxidermied raccoon holding a whiskey bottle.

Shortly after Haaland and his raccoon were spotted in photos and videos departing the airplane in Norway, he joked about the viral moment on X. “It followed me home,” he wrote in a post, adding a raccoon and laughing face emoji.

Fans quickly found Haaland’s taxidermy friend online and shared that it set him back $750. The raccoon is called the Whiskey Raccoon from Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, Texas, and Haaland posted a video on Snapchat of what appears to be the same raccoon earlier in the tournament.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: haaland; norway; raccoon; worldcup

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1 posted on 07/13/2026 6:19:53 PM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

I wonder if in 10 years we see him wandering around Arizona or Montana.


2 posted on 07/13/2026 6:29:30 PM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: DoodleBob

If he played in the MLS in the US, he’d probably make more from endorsements than if he stayed in England, even though his salary would be bigger over there.

I wouldn’t be shocked if he comes here when he’s still relatively young.


3 posted on 07/13/2026 6:34:14 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: dfwgator
I wouldn’t be shocked if he comes here when he’s still relatively young.

The MLS is known as the "Retirement League" for a reason.

Beckham.

Messi.

4 posted on 07/13/2026 6:35:52 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Now Lewandowski.

All the Poles in Chicago are excited about him coming there.


5 posted on 07/13/2026 6:36:49 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: dfwgator
I’m not a soccer guy, but Sørloth blew it when he didn’t pass to Haaland on that 2-on-1 break in the loss to the Brits.

That was gut-wrenching.


6 posted on 07/13/2026 6:44:34 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: DoodleBob

I was so pissed!


7 posted on 07/13/2026 6:48:28 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: dfwgator

I’ve seen some footage of soccer “stars.” Some of them are pretty heartless around fans and treat the “help” with borderline disdain.

But Haaland is incredibly “normal” and in many cases downright generous. Even when it seems like nobody is looking. I’m sure he’s been coached, but you can’t fake that level of genuine humanity.

It took a lot for him to not throw Sørloth under the bus. The agony on his face and body language after the Brit goalie caught the ball spoke volumes…the cheats that they are.

If he comes to MLS, Haaland may be just the thing that sparks a jumpstart.


8 posted on 07/13/2026 7:00:57 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Pele started it.


9 posted on 07/13/2026 7:02:22 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: DoodleBob

Cute raccoon.


10 posted on 07/13/2026 7:06:10 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: dfwgator

The Irish in MN are excited too.


11 posted on 07/13/2026 7:50:02 PM PDT by BarbM (Men who look at porn are impotent for God.)
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To: DoodleBob

Imagine: Erling Haaland and Sophie Cunningham.


12 posted on 07/13/2026 7:51:09 PM PDT by BarbM (Men who look at porn are impotent for God.)
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To: DoodleBob

That is the only way any country should accept raccoons, dead.


13 posted on 07/13/2026 8:02:00 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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