Erling Haaland has been making headlines for reasons beyond the World Cup. Recently, he stepped off a plane in Oslo, carrying a Dolce & Gabbana tote on one shoulder and a taxidermy raccoon holding a liquor bottle under his other arm. This striking entrance quickly took social media by storm, with photos spreading across every football account online within minutes.
Haaland embraced the chaos, posting on Instagram, 'It followed me home', accompanied by a raccoon emoji and a crying-laughing face. He confirmed that the £580 booze-loving raccoon was coming home with him, whether Norway liked it or not. He then invited fans to help name his new housemate, with options including Cowboy, Ranger, TEX, and R.O.W. (Raccoon on Wheels), all on the shortlist.
Cowboy Boots and Big Dreams
Before it became a punchline, the raccoon was a souvenir from a Texas adventure that began just days earlier when Haaland scored Norway's winning goal against Ivory Coast at Dallas Stadium, the FIFA-mandated name for AT&T Stadium during the World Cup. Hours later, the raccoon appeared at Wild Bill's Western Store in downtown Dallas, a family business run by Cody and Julie Newport for over 40 years.
The staff helped him get fitted for a Stetson hat, cowboy boots, and a longhorn belt buckle. He even managed to visit Six Flags between matches. 'As a store owner and as a Texan, I take great pride in being able to share our culture', Cody Newport told TMZ about the visit, which sold out the shop's now-viral 'Y'all Can Kiss My Dallas' shirt.
The Squirrels Left Behind
It turns out that the raccoon was only one-third of the haul. Haaland also picked up two taxidermy squirrels: one wearing a sheriff's hat and the other caught mid-swig of a Budweiser. This was part of a group tab that reportedly totalled £5,900 for five players from Norway.
The fate of the squirrels remains a true cliffhanger, with one viral post questioning why he left the two behind. Fans are left wondering whether his teammates received the law-abiding rodents as gifts or if they simply forgot to bring them on the flight home.
The Haaland racoon context 😭😭 why’s he left the 2 squirrels pic.twitter.com/mv0w0e9MWo
— Danis (@DanisMCFC) July 13, 2026
Too Strange to Believe
A designer tote bag on one shoulder and a dead raccoon clutching a drink under the other arm is not a combination that most people can easily comprehend. For a while, many fans assumed it was fake.
he’s so unpredictable lmao https://t.co/3yoI0ymYcH
— dracojeremy (@jeremyb___) July 13, 2026
The photos resembled something that a chaotic corner of the internet would generate as an AI prompt for laughs. However, eyewitnesses and reporters on the scene confirmed that the taxidermied raccoon was indeed real.
A Different Kind of Trophy
Norway's impressive run in the World Cup came to an end in Miami, where they lost to England, 2-1, in extra time during the quarterfinals. This marked the end of the country's first World Cup appearance since 1998, despite Erling Haaland's remarkable contribution of seven goals throughout the tournament. Although he couldn't bring home the trophy, Haaland found a unique way to cope with the team's exit.
While some online critics questioned the ethics of using taxidermy as a viral prop, the broader internet community was too preoccupied with a naming poll to pay much attention. The Whiskey Raccoon has returned to Norway now and is there to stay.
