Heartwarming meaning behind why Erling Haaland uses ‘Braut’ on Norway jersey
Erling Haaland is one of the biggest stars at the 2026 World Cup, but some newer fans have been curious about one of the Norwegian striker’s most distinctive details.
While most footballers wear their family surname on the back of their national team shirt, Haaland’s jersey reads 'Braut Haaland' rather than simply 'Haaland”' The choice, however, is not linked to a sponsorship deal, branding decision, or marketing move, it is a meaningful tribute to his family heritage.
The name Braut comes from his mother, Gry Marita Braut, a Norwegian former heptathlete who played an important role in his early life. By including Braut on his shirt, Haaland honours his maternal family name alongside the Haaland name that is already famous in football.
His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, is also a well-known figure in the sport, having played for clubs including Leeds United, Nottingham Forest F.C. and Manchester City F.C. in the UK. Erling was born in 2000 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, during his father’s time playing in England.
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The detail has caught the attention of fans around the world, many of whom are discovering that the superstar’s full name is Erling Braut Haaland.
But even the most dedicated football fans may not realise that Haaland only wears one name on his jersey when playing for Manchester City. He only goes by one name when playing at club level, as fans have seen during his stints at Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Salzburg.
It's not uncommon for Norwegians have two surnames, a naming tradition supported by the Norwegian Names Act. People can officially register a double surname, often combining both parents’ family names to reflect their family heritage. Alternatively, one of the names may be registered as a middle name while the other remains the primary surname.
Speaking of Haaland and his clothes, the footballer has sparked his own cheeky fashion trend during this year’s championship.
The 25-year-old sports star has well and truly embraced American culture during his time across the pond, where a lot of the tournament’s games are taking place.
He took to Instagram last week Wednesday (1 July) to share an insight into what he’s been up to while off the pitch - shopping for Texas-themed attire, apparently.
Haaland shared two pictures wearing a brown pair of cowboy boots, a black cowboy hat, and a T-shirt that says, “Y’all can kiss my Dallas.”
He simply captioned the post with, “Howdy!” and a cowboy emoji - and fans are obsessed.
The post came after Norway's World Cup win in Dallas on Tuesday (30 June) against the Ivory Coast, in which Haaland secured the victory as he scored a last-minute winner.
And as reported by Fox 4, the footballer’s interest in Texas fashion has triggered a huge sales surge, almost emptying the store's stock of the particular T-shirt he was wearing.
The publication has revealed that the shop in question is Wild Bill’s Western Store in Downtown Dallas, owned by Cody and Julie Newport, who told the outlet that they knew in advance that Haaland was coming and had specially had part of the floor roped off for his arrival.
Greg Harris