Haaland enjoys ice hockey before World Cup bow in 2026

Erling Haaland watched an NHL game and waved to the crowd in Raleigh before Norway's World Cup opener against Iraq on June 16.

Football star at hockey game Erling Haaland traded the football field for the ice rink as he joined teammates from Norway to watch a Stanley Cup playoff match. The group showed strong support for the Carolina Hurricanes during game five of their NHL series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. Haaland, who will debut for Norway at the World Cup against Iraq on 16 June at 23:00 BST, appeared relaxed at the Lenovo Centre in Raleigh. He waved to fans when Norway’s team flashed on the scoreboard and swung a Hurricanes rally towel overhead. ## Haaland dressed in Hurricanes colors Arriving in a grey polo shirt, Haaland later posed in a white and red Hurricanes jersey marked with the number nine. He wore the same number for both club and country. The Hurricanes are chasing their first Stanley Cup in two decades and currently lead the Golden Knights 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after a 4-2 win in regulation during game five. ## Norway’s World Cup preparations Norway return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and their first major tournament since Euro 2000. Despite not starting their campaign until next Tuesday, they have already made an impression. The squad wore Viking attire for a striking farewell photo taken by British photographer David Yarrow, titled The Vikings Are Coming. They also honored their roots with a team picture featuring shirts from their first clubs. ## Tournament schedule and base Norway are based in Greensboro, North Carolina—about 80 miles from the Hurricanes’ Raleigh venue—for the duration of the tournament. The group got a chance to attend the NHL’s marquee event less than two weeks after the men’s national ice hockey team claimed bronze at the World Championships by beating Canada in overtime. After facing Iraq in Boston for their World Cup opener on 16 June at 23:00 BST, Norway travel to New Jersey to meet Senegal on 23 June at 01:00 BST. They return to Boston to face France on 26 June at 20:00 BST.