Erling Haaland's 'Whiskey Raccoon' Souvenir Sparks Social Media Frenzy

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has become a social media sensation after posting a photo of himself carrying a taxidermied raccoon while holding a bottle of whiskey upon his return to Oslo from the 2026 World Cup. The post on his personal Instagram account garnered over five million likes by July 15, 2026.

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It followed me home

Haaland captioned the image with a playful "It followed me home," accompanied by a raccoon emoji and a laughing face. This quip suggested the raccoon "followed him home" rather than being intentionally purchased. The photo fueled various online speculations, with some netizens believing the raccoon held symbolic meaning or was the mascot for the 2026 World Cup.

However, the raccoon is a taxidermied souvenir. According to WCNC, Haaland purchased the preserved animal for approximately $750 (around 12 million Indonesian Rupiah) at Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas while the Norwegian national team was in Texas for the World Cup. The store's visitors had nicknamed the raccoon "Whiskey Raccoon." The Norwegian team achieved its first-ever knockout stage victory in the World Cup history by defeating Ivory Coast on June 30, 2026, in Arlington.

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We know that raccoon! So cool seeing our little raccoon made it to Norway!

Wild Bill's Western Store even commented on Haaland's Instagram post, confirming their connection: "We know that raccoon! So cool seeing our little raccoon made it to Norway!" This comment verified that the raccoon Haaland brought home was indeed purchased from their establishment. The store owner, Julie Newport, expressed her delight, stating, "It's truly special when something like this happens to a small store like ours." The taxidermied raccoon became one of the most striking souvenirs he chose, reflecting Haaland's humorous personality off the field.

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It's truly special when something like this happens to a small store like ours.