Norway’s striker Erling Haaland spent his summer in the United States playing in the World Cup, and returned home with a unique souvenir.
The 25-year-old soccer star made headlines when he was photographed carrying a taxidermy raccoon holding an empty liquor bottle when getting off a plane at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on July 13.
Sharing a photo from his arrival to his X account, Haaland quipped, “It followed me home.”
Jan Langhaug/NTB/AFP via Getty Images
Jan Langhaug/NTB/AFP via Getty Images Norway’s striker Erling Braut Haaland gets off the plane after Norway’s national football team landed at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on July 13, 2026. Norway were knocked out in the quarter-final match against England.
As the photos of him and his gift went viral, it caught the attention of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), who shared some thoughts on what people can and can’t fly with.
“We’re getting some questions about flying with taxidermy raccoons holding empty liquor bottles,” reads TSA’s July 14 message on social media. “It’s ok with us but pls check with your airline first.”
The taxidermy raccoon was purchased during his visit to Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, according to the local store. On their Instagram story, they shared Haaland’s photo and commented, “We know that raccoon! so cool seeing our little raccoon made it to Norway.”
Haaland filmed his visit to the store and shared the experience in a July 3 YouTube video he titled “Norway’s Texas Takeover.”
The 10-minute vlog shows the athlete trying on a variety of western wear, including boots and hats. It appears that he purchased “four hats, three winter hats and one summer” hat, according to the salesman in the video.
While shopping around, Haaland also expressed interest in a shirt that said, “Y’all can kiss my Dallas.”
Haaland, who became an online sensation for U.S. World Cup viewers, couldn’t believe how welcoming everyone was.
“Unbelievable, so nice. I’m coming back here,” he said. “People are so nice here. So positive. Don’t know what it is, they’re… enjoying life. It’s amazing.”
Haaland and the rest of Team Norway were unfortunately eliminated during the quarterfinals. They returned to their home country after they lost to England on July 11.
Since Haaland’s visit, sales from Wild Bill’s have skyrocketed. The store has even begun to offer international shipping for the first time in its history, owner Julie Newport told The Athletic.
“We are somewhere around 2,000 online orders right now, about 30 per cent of that is international but every day when we wake up, we have more orders,” Newport told the outlet. “For international, we just didn’t have that ability turned on before (Haaland visited).”
While Haaland didn’t share footage of his raccoon purchase, which retails for $750, the store still experienced significant interest in its taxidermy selection.
“We’ve had a couple of these taxidermy raccoons in the store for the last few years, and he obviously gravitated to that and a couple of the squirrels,” Newport told The Athletic. “(Since he posted on social media), we ordered another raccoon — we put it out on the floor today but by the time we put it on the floor, someone already bought it online.”
Unfortunately, the taxidermy specialist from whom the store purchased its critters has retired, so there is limited stock of the famous raccoon, Newport told the outlet.
The store isn’t shy about its association to Haaland. Its website proudly displays a blurb about its famous fan.
“Looking for one of the most talked-about souvenirs at Wild Bill’s?” the website says. “Our squirrels and raccoons gained worldwide attention after soccer superstar Erling Haaland shared photos from his visit to Wild Bill’s Western Store during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, introducing millions of fans to one of Texas’ most unexpected western traditions.”
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