The thrill of international football is about to get a serious chill – as Norway's superstar striker Erling Haaland swapped the lush grass for the icy rink in a show-stopping appearance at an NHL play-off game. The Norwegian ace, set to make his long-awaited World Cup debut against Iraq on June 16th, was spotted cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes alongside his teammates in Raleigh, North Carolina's Lenovo Centre – and he brought the noise with him! Donning a white and red Hurricanes jersey, complete with the number nine emblazoned proudly across his chest (a nod to his iconic club and country numbers), Haaland was caught on camera waving enthusiastically to the crowd, swinging a rally towel above his head like a pro.
The Hurricanes are firing on all cylinders right now – and their 4-2 regulation win in Game Five has given them a crucial 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. This high-octane outing for Norway's national team comes just weeks after they stunned Canada with an overtime bronze medal at the World Championships, cementing their reputation as one of hockey's hottest tickets.
With Norway set to make their first World Cup appearance since 1998 – and their first major international tournament since Euro 2000 – this 'epic send-off' photograph in full Viking regalia by renowned British photographer David Yarrow has already captured the imagination of fans worldwide. The team's unique pre-tournament activities have been making waves, but it's clear that Haaland and co are all about business on the ice.
For the duration of the tournament, Norway will be based in Greensboro, North Carolina – a stone's throw from the Hurricanes' home ground in Raleigh. Following their opener against Iraq in Boston, they'll travel to New Jersey for a date with Senegal on June 23rd, before returning to Beantown for their final group stage clash against France on June 26th.