Erling Haaland and his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen. (Instagram)Erling Haaland's performances have kept Norway in the spotlight throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the tournament has also brought renewed attention to the people around him. One of the biggest stories away from the pitch has been the growing profile of his longtime partner, Isabel Haugseng Johansen. Just hours before Norway's 2-1 quarterfinal defeat to England, Johansen shared a personal career milestone that highlighted how her public profile has expanded during the tournament. While Haaland continued to dominate headlines for football, Johansen found herself making news in a different space.How did Isabel Haugseng Johansen become famous during the 2026 FIFA World Cup?On Saturday, July 11, shortly before Norway faced England in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, Isabel Haugseng Johansen revealed that she had appeared on the cover of Elle. The announcement came through a collaborative Instagram post with the publication, marking one of her biggest media moments to date.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available."Elle is in Miami and had an exclusive chat with Isabel ahead of the World Cup quarter-final between Norway and England," the publication shared in a collaborative post with her on the social media site.The timing of the announcement drew attention as Norway prepared for one of the biggest matches in its football history. Although the team was eliminated by England later that day, Johansen's achievement became one of the notable off-field developments surrounding the quarterfinal.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Haaland's global popularity has been growing for years, and his social media reach reflects that. With more than 61 million Instagram followers, he remains one of football's biggest digital stars. Johansen, however, has carved out a growing audience of her own instead of remaining simply a familiar face beside the Norwegian striker.The couple's story has also added to public interest. They grew up together in Bryne, Norway, knowing each other since childhood before beginning their relationship in 2021. In December 2024, they welcomed their first son, adding another chapter to a relationship that has largely stayed away from unnecessary public attention.This World Cup, however, has changed Johansen's visibility. She has regularly been spotted supporting Norway from the stands while sharing moments from the tournament on social media. Those updates have resonated with fans following both Norway's impressive run and Haaland's performances.Her online growth tells the story. Before the World Cup began, Johansen reportedly had just over 370,000 Instagram followers. As Norway advanced deep into the competition, that number climbed beyond 1.4 million, making her one of the tournament's fastest-rising personalities away from the action on the field.Recent photos of Johansen wearing a simple summer dress also generated significant online engagement, with many fans praising her understated style. Combined with her Elle cover appearance, those moments have helped establish her own public identity during a tournament where Haaland's goals dominated football conversations. Even though Norway's World Cup journey ended in disappointment, Johansen leaves the competition with a much larger global audience and a career milestone that reflects her growing presence beyond football.