In the match against Iraq, Atletico Madrid's towering striker Sørloth started alongside Haaland and Nusa to form the attacking line. Ultimately, Norway won 4-1. Mundo Deportivo published an op-ed piece detailing the connection between Sørloth and Haaland.
Mundo Deportivo column article "The Sørloth Family: Returning to the FIFA World Cup Stage After 32 Years"
In the early hours of this Wednesday, a legendary story that only the world of sports can create unfolded in the football world, and Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth was the protagonist of this story.
Sørloth made his FIFA World Cup debut in Norway's match against Iraq, which the Scandinavian team won decisively 4-1. Sørloth started, as usual, on the right wing, with Haaland in the center, and Nusa on the left.
Sørloth was active in the match, getting a golden opportunity in the first half to almost score his first FIFA World Cup goal. In a counter-attack, he received a pass from Haaland in the box but chose to control the ball first instead of shooting directly, which gave the defenders enough time to close him down. Besides this chance, he combined well with his teammates, made successful tackles, and fought hard on that flank.
Let's get back to the main point, the core of this article is about a player named "Sørloth" playing in the FIFA World Cup again after 32 years. In 1994, his father, Gøran Sørloth, also played for Norway in the FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Also playing as a striker, Gøran Sørloth made 55 appearances for Norway, scoring 15 goals. However, the elder Sørloth only played one match in that FIFA World Cup, against Ireland.
Interestingly, that team also included Haaland's father Alf, and Sørloth's father Erik – the latter being Norway's goalkeeper. These three players followed in their parents' footsteps, whose parents represented Norway in 1994, which was also the "Viking team's" most recent appearance in the FIFA World Cup.