June 19, 2026
Norway’s 2026 World Cup squad has produced a unique football story, with three players following in the footsteps of their fathers, who also represented the Scandinavian nation on football’s biggest stage.
Forwards Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth, with midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt, are all sons of former Norway internationals who featured at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, making them the first known trio of second-generation players to appear together for a national team at the tournament.
Their fathers, Alf-Inge Haaland, Goran Sorloth and Erik Thorstvedt, were part of the Norway side that competed at USA 1994. All three were involved in Norway’s 1-0 defeat to Italy during the group stage on June 23, 1994.
Goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt was in goal when Dino Baggio scored the match-winning goal for Italy, while Alf-Inge Haaland played the full match and received a yellow card. Although Goran Sorloth remained on the bench for that encounter but later started Norway’s final group-stage game against Ireland.
