Haaland Gains 20 Million Instagram Followers as World Cup Run Ignites U.S. Fan Frenzy
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 11
Haaland Gains 20 Million Instagram Followers as World Cup Run Ignites U.S. Fan Frenzy
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 11
Summary
20 million new Instagram followers have pushed Erling Haaland from 40 million to 60 million during the World Cup, turning Norway’s striker into a breakout star with American audiences.
Goofy Snapchat posts, candid vlogs and direct fan replies have driven that surge, with clips ranging from Shrek-filter selfies to his “Ornaldo” typo apology and a comment on a green-onion lookalike video.
Several million YouTube views on his U.S. travel vlogs have widened the appeal, including a Dallas stop where he bought cowboy boots and wore a shirt reading “Y’all can kiss my Dallas.”
Miami and Texas fans told BBC Mundo they were won over by Haaland’s humor and humility, while even Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna shared the viral spring-onion meme before Norway’s quarter-final.
Saturday’s match against England in Miami will pit Haaland against former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham, but the report says his popularity in America already looks secure regardless of the result.