Erling Haaland's growing popularity in the United States has been compared to Travis Kelce after he started dating Taylor Swift.
Kelce's relationship with Swift has transformed him into one of the most famous players in the NFL.
Haaland is not dating a popular American celebrity, but his performances at the 2026 World Cup have raised his profile.
The 25-year-old has carried Norway to the World Cup quarter-final, with seven goals in five games.
Haaland has also gone viral on social media for his many 'side quests' while staying in the United States.
Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images
Erling Haaland might be the biggest winner (off the pitch) from the 2026 World Cup, thanks to his rise to stardom in the USA.
The Norwegian goalscorer has been a phenomenon on the pitch, but he has also won over the American public.
From wearing cowboy hats and boots in Texas to leading Norway's iconic 'Viking Row' celebration, Haaland has regularly made headlines.
The Manchester City striker has even received an invitation to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Haaland has quickly become one of the biggest sports stars in the US, as Travis Kelce did after his relationship with Taylor Swift began in 2023.
"Haaland's camp has been told that social-media algorithms are being geared towards Haaland content, because that is where the demand is," wrote football journalist Sam Lee.
"His boom in popularity in the US has been likened to when Travis Kelce began dating Taylor Swift, and then his Kansas City Chiefs team won that season's Super Bowl."
Given that he is now married to Swift and plays America's most popular sport, Kelce's fame might be impossible for Haaland to match.
However, the Norwegian's profile appears to have gone global at the 2026 World Cup.
Haaland's next opportunity to gain even more fans will be when Norway take on England in the quarter-final on Saturday.
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