The latest Soccer Score around Erling Haaland has gone beyond the pitch in Peru, where 468 newborns were registered with Haaland as a surname during the 2026 World Cup fever.
Peru's identity registry said on Friday that 91 infants also carried the full name Erling Haaland, underlining how strongly the Norway striker has caught the imagination in Lima and beyond. The trend gathered pace in the weeks following the World Cup's kick-off, as Haaland kept delivering on the field for Norway.
Why Haaland became a name parents wanted
Haaland scored seven times in four appearances at the tournament, a run that helped turn him into one of the most talked-about players of the 2026 edition of the world's biggest football extravaganza. He also made both goals in Norway's victory against Brazil, another moment that appears to have fuelled the naming surge.
The numbers are striking because they show football influence working in real time. By the time Norway were due to face England in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, Haaland was not just a scorer, but a cultural reference point for Peruvian families looking for a name with instant football meaning.
A pattern Peru has seen before
Ivan Torres said that different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names. Haaland now joins a list that already includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal and Neymar, showing that Peru's football fever often reaches into the registry office as well as the stadium.
For Norway, it is a sign of how far Haaland's impact has spread. For Peru, it is another reminder that a major World Cup can shape behaviour far beyond the 90 minutes on the field.
