The foundations of Erling Haaland’s success on football’s biggest stage were laid in a leafy Norwegian town some 250 miles removed from the bright lights of Oslo.
Having been born in Leeds, the Norwegian moved back to his father’s hometown of Bryne, home to just 12,000 people, as a toddler.
It was there, aged five, that he joined the town’s only football academy Bryne FK, progressing through the ranks and making his first-team debut as a mere 15-year-old. The rest, as they say, is history.
Yet it wasn’t just the seeds of Haaland’s career which were planted in this otherwise inconspicuous town. No, his relationship was built there too.
Isabel Haugseng Johansen has been arguably the most prominent – and perhaps supportive – of the WAGs to have travelled Stateside for this summer’s tournament.
The 22-year-old fashionista, who boasts more than a million Instagram followers, has shared a raft of snaps to her social media since she landed across the pond – and even shed a tear after watching Haaland spearhead his country to a World Cup quarter-final last weekend.
Isabel Haugseng Johansen has been arguably the most prominent – and perhaps supportive – of the WAGs who have travelled Stateside for this summer’s tournament
She has been in a relationship with Erling Haaland for half a decade and the couple share a child together
Haaland and Johansen pose for a photo after he scored twice to seal Norway a 2-1 victory against Brazil last weekend
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Yet you may be surprised to hear that long before she became known as Haaland’s biggest supporter, Johansen had aspirations of donning Norway’s iconic jersey herself.
Indeed, the couple first became acquainted – though not yet romantically – during Johansen’s days as a budding footballer at Bryne FK.
While playing for the club’s academy, the Norwegian was known as something of a speedster, but eventually gave the sport up to pursue a career as an influencer. That, however, seems to be a decision which she somewhat regrets.
Johansen said in a YouTube video with Haaland last year: ‘To be honest, I wasn’t the best with dribbling and stuff. I was more with speed. I was running. I miss it a lot.’
But it appears that Johansen’s football knowledge has ultimately proven valuable in her relationship with Haaland.
He said in the same video: ‘She played football. We met and all of that. It’s nice because you understand football.’
Despite both growing up in Bryne – and the fact they played for the same football club – it wasn’t until Haaland’s career was blossoming at Borussia Dortmund that the pair struck up a romance some five years ago. Haaland, though, claims Johansen was the one who made the first move.
‘She sent me the message,’ the Manchester City striker told Norwegian TV. ‘She played for the same club I played for, Bryne. She was the one who checked me out. I wasn’t the one who checked her out.
Johansen also follows Haaland to Man City games, but started dating him during his time at Borussia Dortmund
‘From my experience, you find your girlfriend when you least expect it. If you’re always looking for a girlfriend, you’ll never find one. Get out and socialize. Meet people and get to know people.’
Johansen’s profile has unsurprisingly grown since she and Haaland made their relationship public. She has since developed something of a modelling career, and featured on the front cover of Norway’s KK Magazine earlier this month. It came just a short time after she worked with jewellery brand Langgard as an ambassador, and featured in a video for Vogue Scandinavia.
Johansen says that she takes influence from Princess Diana, Grace Kelly and Kendall Jenner when it comes to fashion, but admitted her style has changed since she and Haaland welcomed their first child together in December 2024.
The couple are incredibly private about the baby boy, so much so that his name is yet to have even been made public. Haaland has, however, previously opened up about life as a father.
Speaking late last year after netting his ninth goal in seven Man City appearances, the 25-year-old credited his stellar form to fatherhood.
‘To be honest, with a kid I think it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I don’t think about football at all.
‘Sometimes when you’re younger you think of this and that and maybe worry a little bit about things.
‘But now when I go home I relax even more so I think I need to give a shout out to my son.’
Whether Haaland’s child has travelled to support him in North America remains unknown, but Johansen is one of an army of Norwegian WAGs to have made the trip.
Johansen is pictured posing for a sweet snap with Fulham midfielder Sander Berge’s partner, Julie Klaasen
The Norwegian national team have brought an army of WAGs with them to North America (Martin Odegaard is pictured with his wife, Helene Odegaard)
Martin Odegaard’s glamorous wife Helene Spilling Odegaard has been a regular at Norway’s matches, and posed for a sweet picture with the Arsenal captain after the country’s victory over Ivory Coast.
Johansen is meanwhile thought to be good friends with Fulham midfielder Sander Berge’s ex-skier girlfriend Julie Karlsen. The pair have been spotted sporting matching cowboy hats along with their Norway tops, complete with the names ‘Braut Haaland’ and ‘Berge’ embroidered on the back.
The WAGs have indeed been given plenty to celebrate this summer. After Haaland fired a low, driven effort past Alisson Becker on Sunday to secure Norway’s 2-1 victory against Brazil, Johansen was filmed crying amid jubilant scenes in the stands of the MetLife Stadium.
She devoted a heartfelt message to her boyfriend on Instagram after the match, reading: ‘I am so proud of you for what you have achieved so far. You have worked hard, never given up and have always done this. Seeing you now fills me with pride.’
Haaland has bagged seven goals in four games so far this summer on Norway’s route to Miami, where they will face Thomas Tuchel’s England for a place in a World Cup semi-final.
Could the blonde behemoth inspire his country to glory once more? That remains to be seen, but Johansen is sure to be in the stands at the Hard Rock Stadium roaring him on.
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