Read for 2 minutesUpdated: 14 July 2026 10:36 PM IST
Erling Haaland may have had to bid farewell to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the quarter-finals but the impact he made will last for years to come, particularly in Peru. Despite the slight resemblance between the South American country and Norway, a total of 563 Peruvian names are now directly inspired by Norwegians and Manchester City forwards.
According to official figures released by the country’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), 468 out of 563 Peruvians bear the surname Haaland, and another 91 children are registered with his full name, Erling Haaland. Most of these have been registered since the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Different football stars inspire Peruvians to register their children with these names,” Renick’s spokesman Ivan Torres said on Panamericana Televisio. He said the frequency of registrations has increased dramatically since Norway reached the quarter-finals. “Haaland is also Peruvian,” Torres joked.
This was Norway’s fourth appearance at the World Cup and their first since 1998. They managed to defeat Senegal and finish second in their group to advance to the knockout stages. Norway then defeated Ivory Coast in the round of 32 and then remarkably defeated five-time champions Brazil 2–1 in the quarter-finals. Their journey ended with a 2-1 quarter-final loss to England in Miami.
Throughout the journey, Haaland played a vital role in their cause, scoring seven goals during the campaign. This included two against Brazil, after which he led Norway’s viral Viking Row celebration.
More than the goals, it’s almost everything about the striker that has made him a viral sensation — from the striker’s hair to the way he walks, his rather lackluster goal celebrations against Brazil and his sometimes hilarious post-match interviews. Haaland has also been actively posting rather cheeky posts on social media and has even responded to a female content creator who looks just like him.