Haaland the only recognizable star as Norway arrives in USA for World Cup

The Norwegian national football team has arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the World Cup, but only one player truly captured the attention of the few American fans gathered at their hotel: Erling Haaland.

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We love Haaland. He is one of the world's best, an incredibly cool guy.

The 1.95-meter tall striker, known for his distinctive long blonde hair and expensive accessories, is Norway's biggest star. "We love Haaland. He is one of the world's best, an incredibly cool guy," said 11-year-old Max Steele, who, along with his younger brother Jack, proudly showed off their Haaland fan cards.

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It is very exciting that the Norwegian national team is staying here.

While the Steele family expressed excitement about the Norwegian team's presence, soccer, or "soccer" as Americans call it, still lags significantly behind the country's "big four" sports: American football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. Even college sports and women's basketball often garner more attention than professional soccer leagues like Major League Soccer (MLS).

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It's not often that little Greensboro gets a visit from a world star like 'Erlin Holland'. I don't know much about Norway and the rest of the team, but it's great that they are here, especially for the children.

An informal test by VG outside the hotel highlighted this disparity. When shown photos of prominent Norwegian players like Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, and captain Martin Ødegaard, only Haaland was immediately recognized by the football-interested Steele family. Ødegaard, captain of Arsenal and a Premier League champion, was vaguely familiar to Max, but Haaland's global superstardom clearly outshone his teammates in this small North Carolina town.

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Ohhh, I'm having a blank. I think I know who he is.