07/13/2026
In 1994, Norway made history by reaching the FIFA World Cup in the United States. The team included goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt, midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland, and forward Gøran Sørloth. They had a strong tournament, beating Mexico, drawing with Ireland, and narrowly losing to Italy.
However, their World Cup dream ended in one of the most heartbreaking ways ever seen. All four teams in their group finished with the same number of points and the same goal difference. Norway was knocked out only because they had scored fewer goals than the others. It remains one of the cruelest group-stage exits in World Cup history.
Thirty-two years later, football gave Norway a beautiful second chapter.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the sons of those same players proudly wore the Norwegian jersey. Kristian Thorstvedt, the son of Erik Thorstvedt, Erling Haaland, the son of Alf-Inge Haaland, and Alexander Sørloth, the son of Gøran Sørloth, all represented their country on the same stage where their fathers had once played.
It became the first time in World Cup history that three sons represented the same nation 32 years after their fathers had done the same.
Erling Haaland made the moment even more special by scoring twice in his World Cup debut against Iraq.
For the families, it was an unforgettable experience. Gøran Sørloth described it as "a fairytale coming true," while Erik Thorstvedt admitted he had tears running down his cheeks as he watched the next generation continue their fathers' legacy.
The family story did not end there. Midfielder Patrick Berg, whose father Ørjan Berg also played for Norway, was part of the squad as well.
What began as a painful memory in 1994 turned into a proud and emotional family legacy, proving that sometimes football stories come full circle across generations.
