Norwegian couple names newborn daughter Erle – after Haaland's winning goal in the 86th minute

Lene described to TV2 how she experienced both the birth and her husband's cheers in the decisive moments. "Als ich gespürt habe, dass sie kam, hörte ich einen lauten Jubelschrei meines Mannes, der großer Fußballfan ist", she said. The new father Bjarte had shouted out loudly when the girl came into the world.

Lene recognizes the double meaning of the cheers

Lene realized only seconds later that the cheers were not only for the newborn daughter, but also for the winning goal. "Da wusste ich sofort, dass noch etwas anderes passiert sein musste", she explained. The 86th minute of the game was therefore not only a historic moment in sporting terms, but also in family terms.

The name "Erle" was originally not on the parents' shortlist at all. As Lene further recounted, the two had not yet made a final decision: "Wir hatten uns noch nicht ganz entschieden und mehrere Namen in der engeren Auswahl." But then Bjarte spontaneously brought the name into play – inspired by his idol's goal.

From the unusual suggestion to the naming

"Erle stand nicht auf der Liste, aber dann hat mein Partner den Namen plötzlich ins Spiel gebracht – und so kam es so", Lene continued. Thus Erle, the short form of the Norwegian male first name Erling, has now become a tribute to Norway's current football star. Haaland is considered one of the best strikers in the world and is in outstanding form at the ongoing World Cup.

The goal against the Ivory Coast was of enormous importance for the Norwegian national team. With the late winning goal, the team secured their place in the next round of the tournament. As TV2 reported, Haaland laid the basis for the success with his goal in the 86th minute. The entire moment coincided exactly with the birth of the girl – a circumstance that only gave the parents the unusual name.

Norway's football euphoria at the World Cup

As the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) and APA reported on Friday, the success of the Norwegian national team at the Football World Cup is currently causing enthusiasm in the Scandinavian country. People follow the games with great passion, and stories like that of little Erle show how deeply rooted football is in Norwegian society.

The story impressively illustrates how sport and personal moments of happiness sometimes coincide in miraculous ways. While Erling Haaland sent football fans in Norway into ecstasy with his late goal, at the same moment a girl came into the world elsewhere who will in future bear his name – at least in its female form.

Bjarte: A big fan in a special moment

According to his partner's account, Bjarte himself is a "großer Fußballfan". His cheers in the 86th minute were not only for the birth of his daughter, but also for his idol's goal. This double emotion in a single moment makes the story one of the most curious anecdotes of this World Cup.

The international attention for the story is remarkable. Not only Norwegian media such as TV2 reported, but also dpa and APA picked up the incident and spread it beyond national borders. On social networks, the news also caused smiles and touching comments.

Outlook: Round of 16 against Brazil

For Norway, the tournament continues on Sunday with the round of 16 against Brazil. The Scandinavians will face one of the tournament favourites. Whether Haaland and his team can also provide highlights in this match remains to be seen – but the story of little Erle has in any case already secured its place in World Cup annals.

The parents were open and warm towards the media. Lene spoke at length about the circumstances of the birth and the unusual choice of name. Her accounts make it clear that, despite all the spontaneity, the naming was well thought out – the name Erle has gained a special meaning for the family through its reference to Haaland.

Naming with a special story

Namings after celebrities are not uncommon in Scandinavia. Especially in sports, children's names are often inspired by current stars. However, the fact that the exact timing – birth and winning goal in the same minute of play – was the deciding factor makes the case of Erle particularly extraordinary and unique.

The Norwegian village in which little Erle was born has gained supra-regional fame through the story. The mixture of popular sport, family event and historic World Cup moment has touched people. Many Norwegians celebrate the anecdote as a symbol of how much football currently moves the country.

In summary: The story of little Erle is an example of how sport has an impact on people's everyday lives. A winning goal in the 86th minute not only decided a match, but also gave a child her name. For the parents Bjarte and Lene, the year 2026 will certainly remain unforgettable – regardless of how the tournament continues for Norway.