More than 500 Peruvians are named after Haaland, as the Norwegian striker’s performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup fuel an unexpected wave of enthusiasm thousands of kilometres from Norway. Peru’s civil registry has identified 563 people whose names were inspired by Erling Braut Haaland, while shirts featuring the forward are becoming increasingly popular in Lima.
Haaland names appear in Peru’s civil registry
According to Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Registro Nacional de Identificación y Estado Civil, Reniec), four Peruvians have been registered with the striker’s complete name: Erling Braut Haaland.
Another 91 are called Erling Haaland, while 468 have Haaland as one of their registered names. Reniec presented the figures with the phrase “Haaland is also Peruvian”.
The registry did not specify when all the names were registered. Some may therefore predate the current World Cup. However, the figures have attracted renewed attention during Norway’s successful tournament in North America.
Football stars have frequently influenced naming choices in Peru and other Latin American countries. Haaland’s case stands out because his surname, rather than only his first name, has been adopted by hundreds of families.
Haaland’s World Cup makes him a Peruvian favourite
The attention surrounding the Haaland names in Peru has grown alongside the striker’s performances for Norway. The Manchester City forward has scored seven goals at his first men’s World Cup, including both Norwegian goals in the 2–1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16.
The result sent Norway into a World Cup quarter-final for the first time. Ståle Solbakken’s team will face England at Miami Stadium on Saturday, 11 July, with Haaland again expected to be the central figure in Norway’s attack.
His seven goals have also placed him among the leading scorers of the tournament and turned the match into a direct comparison between two of Europe’s most prominent forwards: Haaland and England captain Harry Kane.
Viking Haaland shirts spread across Lima
Haaland’s popularity in Peru is not limited to birth certificates. Traders in Gamarra, Lima’s main textile and clothing district, have reported growing demand for T-shirts carrying his image.
Sales reportedly increased after Norway eliminated Brazil, one of the most widely supported international teams in Peru. Popular designs depict Haaland as a Viking or reproduce the Norwegian team’s coordinated “Viking clap” celebration.
The shirts are being sold for approximately 28 to 30 Peruvian soles wholesale or individually, equivalent to around €7.20 to €7.70 at current exchange rates.
Peru did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup, leaving many local supporters free to adopt other teams and players during the tournament. Norway’s unexpected progress, combined with Haaland’s goals and recognisable public image, has made the Nordic side an attractive choice.
Whether Norway advances against England or not, Haaland has already produced one of the tournament’s more unusual cultural effects. His World Cup has not only placed Norwegian football on the international stage. It has also revealed that, at least according to Peru’s civil registry, hundreds of Peruvians were already carrying the Haaland name.
