"No, I didn't think that. I've been two times. I'm 23, so people are going over to the MLS and playing football there. I never thought of it because I'm young. I'm playing in Man City, you know? I basically just came here."

Erling Haaland said that to talkSPORT in the aftermath of the World Cup, brushing aside suggestions that his seven-goal tournament and sudden American celebrity status might lure him toward MLS. The Manchester City striker made the point bluntly: at 25, in his prime at Europe's elite level, there was nothing to think about.

The paradox is immediate. Haaland arrived at the World Cup as a gifted but still-unproven striker for a smaller nation. He left as a personality sensation in the world's richest football market. Seven goals in five matches. A 7.94 rating across the tournament that exceeded most of his recent Premier League performances, which typically hover between 6.9 and 7.7. Twenty million new Instagram followers, pushing him from 40 million to 60 million in a matter of weeks.

Off the pitch, the circus was equally striking. He landed holding a stuffed raccoon, swapped his Viking helmet for a Texas cowboy hat, posted a mocked-up Shrek selfie captioned "Selfie with my twin," and wandered incognito through New York in a baseball cap and sunglasses. By any measure, Haaland had captivated American audiences who had barely heard of him before the tournament. The American sports ecosystem—tabloid-hungry, influencer-obsessed, desperate for marquee international talent—had adopted him wholesale.

Yet here he was, explicitly ruling out the one place that suddenly wanted him most. His answer was unambiguous.

The Manchester City factor

Haaland signed from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2 million in 2022. He did not arrive at City to establish himself or prove a point. He arrived as a centerpiece, a world-class nine-goal-a-season striker. Two years later, that investment has only grown more central to City's plan.

Consider City's form before the World Cup: two wins, one draw, and two losses across five matches. The midseason stumble suggested that without Haaland leading the line, City's title hopes were fragile. His return matters immediately. He carries no chip about European football. He has nothing to prove to the Premier League, and at 25, the notion of stepping down to a league widely regarded as a tier below is not something he entertained before the World Cup, let alone after it.

The American spotlight changed his fame, not his ambition. "I'm not worried about this because I'm a footballer," he said. "I've got good people around me." The message was consistent: football comes first, distractions second.

The World Cup evidence

Seven goals in five appearances positioned Haaland among the tournament's elite scorers and underscored why he remains indispensable to City's future. His 7.94 rating across the tournament surpassed his usual Premier League output. At the World Cup, he was sharper, more clinical, more decisive.

Manchester City finished second in the Premier League with 23 wins, 9 draws, and 6 losses—two points behind the leaders. Haaland's absence during the World Cup was felt. His presence going forward will be felt differently: as the player City built around, not as one they can afford to lose.

The American interlude remains just that

The World Cup sojourn was extraordinary by any measure. The 20 million new followers, the viral moments, the genuine excitement Haaland generated in the American market—all of it real. For a moment, it seemed plausible that an American team might someday make the call. But Haaland's position on MLS was consistent before the tournament and unchanged after it.

He is not a candidate for stateside football. At Manchester City, in the Premier League, in European competition, that is where his football matters. Everything else, however profitable or entertaining, is peripheral. The raccoon, the cowboy hat, the Shrek selfie—they were fun, they went viral, they made him a household name in a market that barely knew him. But they did not move him an inch closer to packing for MLS.

His 2023 stance holds. So does his 2026 reality: young, elite, committed to Europe.

FAQ

Will Erling Haaland sign for an MLS club?

No. Haaland explicitly ruled out MLS after the World Cup, telling talkSPORT: 'I never thought of it because I'm young. I'm playing in Manchester City, you know?' At 25, in his prime at a European elite club, he sees no reason to leave.

Why did Erling Haaland become famous in America?

Haaland scored seven World Cup goals in five matches and grew his Instagram following from 40 million to 60 million. Off-field, he arrived holding a stuffed raccoon, swapped his Viking helmet for a cowboy hat, and posted viral social media moments including a mocked-up Shrek selfie.

How is Erling Haaland performing after the World Cup?

Haaland recorded a 7.94 rating across his five World Cup matches, exceeding his recent Premier League performances. He signed from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2 million in 2022 and remains central to Manchester City's title ambitions.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →