Born in Leeds and now a global football superstar, Erling Haaland’s story could have taken a very different turn for both him and the England national team.

This weekend, England will take on Haaland and Norway for a coveted spot in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Manchester City striker has been in sensational form during his first World Cup campaign, trailing Lionel Messi by just one goal in the Golden Boot standings.

For England, containing Haaland’s threat will be crucial to success in Miami, as the forward has proven nearly unstoppable at this tournament.

Yet, things might have been very different for Haaland and the Three Lions.

Haaland was born in Leeds while his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was playing in the Premier League. This connection theoretically gave him the potential to represent England at the international level.

However, after his family returned to Norway when he was just three years old, Haaland spent his formative years in his parents’ homeland before joining Austrian club RB Salzburg at the age of 18.

His rapid rise through the ranks—from Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund and finally Manchester City—was accompanied by consistent performances for Norway’s youth teams at every level.

Reflecting on his early life, Haaland once remarked, “You never know how it would be if my father played longer in England ... maybe I would be English.”

He famously netted nine goals in a single match for Norway against Honduras at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and has previously stated that choosing Norway was an easy decision.

“It was natural for me to choose Norway,” Haaland told GOAL in 2023. “You never know how it would be if maybe my father played longer in England or whatever. Maybe I would be English, I don't know. But yeah, I'm Norwegian, and I'm proud of it.”

As England prepare to face Norway on Saturday, coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad won’t dwell too much on the possibility of what might have been. The 25-year-old Haaland may have slipped from England’s grasp, but the Three Lions have their own talisman in remarkable form.

Captain Harry Kane is enjoying one of the best stretches of his career and currently sits just one goal behind Haaland in the Golden Boot race.

With both strikers set to go head-to-head in Miami, England fans could be left wondering what might have been if Haaland had chosen to wear the Three Lions badge—especially if he replicates his dominant performance against Brazil in the Round of 16.