Haaland's hometown proud of 'little boy who grew into a huge Viking'

In the small Norwegian town of Bryne, excitement is building ahead of the World Cup quarter-final between Norway and England. Hundreds of locals plan to gather in the central square to watch the match together, cheering on their pride and joy – striker Erling Haaland.

Olinda Haaland, who runs a fabric shop in town and shares the famous surname though not a relative, says Haaland's success has brought immense joy to everyone. "We all love him so much, and he's doing so much for Bryne," she says. Her shop sells Haaland shirts, and demand is huge – even retro World Cup shirts from 1998, when Norway last qualified, sold out in two days.

Mayor Andreas Vollusund, who taught a 10-year-old Haaland, emphasizes the footballer's huge impact on the town. "We are proud of the little boy who has grown into a huge Viking," says Vollusund, who naturally wears a Haaland shirt. "Now Bryne is the capital of Norway, not Oslo."

Haaland, born in Leeds but raised in Bryne, still regularly visits his old favorite spots. He donates football equipment to children and organizes reading competitions. In autumn, a rare 16th-century book of Viking sagas purchased by Haaland will arrive at the local library.

Former coach Alf Ingve Berntsen, who started training Haaland when he was eight, recalls the talent was evident early on. "He was funny, smiling, scoring lots of goals. Even then you could see the fire, the passion," Berntsen says.

The town feels a sense of unity. Social media often divides Norwegians, but the World Cup has had the opposite effect. "It has brought people together, not just in Bryne but all over Norway," Berntsen concludes.