World Cup 2026: Peruvians Name Hundreds of Newborns Haaland

Hundreds of newborns in Peru have been named after star striker Erling Haaland, in tribute to the goalscorer who led his national team, Norway, to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, the country’s civil registry authority reported on Friday.

Haaland, the Norwegian goal-scoring machine, enjoyed overwhelming popularity during the 2026 edition of the world’s biggest football event. The Manchester City star’s seven goals in four matches helped his country reach the quarter-finals after eliminating powerhouse Brazil 2-1, setting up a Saturday clash with England.

Peruvian fans’ admiration for him reached the point of naming their children after him. According to the civil registry, 468 people bear the Norwegian’s surname.

Additionally, 91 newborns have been given the full name Erling Haaland, according to the same source.

Ivan Torres, a spokesperson for the civil registry authority, told Panamericana television channel, “Football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians when registering their children with these names.”

Torres explained that most of the children named after Haaland were registered in the weeks following the start of the World Cup, with numbers rising significantly after Norway’s qualification for the quarter-finals.

He added, “Haaland is also Peruvian.”

Football fever has previously inspired new parents in Peru. There are 3,402 people bearing the surname of Argentine star Lionel Messi, including 292 who carry the full name of the 2022 World Cup champion.

There are also 1,185 Peruvians with the surname of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, while 1,241 people are named Jamal, inspired by the rising Spanish star Lamine Yamal.

Meanwhile, the name of Brazilian star Neymar is borne by 33,809 people in Peru.