England advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals on July 11 after beating Norway 2-1 in Miami, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals, including one in extra time. But while the football world debated Erling Haaland’s controversial late substitution, a different kind of action was unfolding on-chain.
Solana meme tokens linked to the Manchester City striker, including $HAALAND and $VIKINGROW, saw sharp trading volume increases during and after the match.
The match that moved markets nobody expected
Haaland was smothered by England’s back line for the entire 90-plus minutes. The decision to substitute him late in the match drew immediate backlash from fans and analysts who felt Norway’s best chance at an equalizer was walking off the pitch.
Trading activity in $HAALAND and $VIKINGROW spiked in lockstep with social media discourse about the striker.
