Erling Haaland made such an impression during the 2026 World Cup that Peru fully embraced him, registering over 500 babies named after the Norwegian striker.
According to Peru's national registry, 468 babies were named "Haaland," 91 were registered as "Erling Haaland," and a few received his full name, Erling Braut Haaland. The naming wave was fueled by Haaland’s stunning tournament performance, where he scored seven goals in five matches—including braces against Iraq and Senegal, and crucial winners over Ivory Coast and Brazil that sent Norway to the quarterfinals.
Though Peru did not qualify for the tournament, its soccer-loving citizens fell in love with Haaland's relentless style, prompting a registry spokesperson to joke, "Haaland is Peruvian too." The trend even spilled over into Colombia, where a baby named Erling Haaland Estrada Arrieta quickly caught South American media attention.