The FIFA World Cup is about more than matches, goals and drama – it also leaves lasting cultural traces. While Erling Haaland was playing during the 2026 World Cup, Peruvian parents chose to honour the Norwegian footballer by giving their newborn child his name.

According to Peru’s civil registry, no fewer than 468 children have so far been registered with the first name Haaland, and a further 91 with the full name Erling Haaland.

This is not unique to Peru. Haaland’s popularity has led to a marked increase in the use of his name in several Latin American countries. The World Cup effect is evident in birth registers across large parts of the world – from Brazil and Argentina to smaller nations – but Peru is said to be the country that tops the statistics.

🚨JUST IN: Over 500 newborn babies in Peru have been named after Erling Haaland

468 with the name Haaland and 91 with the full name Erling Haaland pic.twitter.com/8JyIrKxBqx

— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) July 13, 2026

Erling Haaland’s performances during the World Cup have impressed the world. In Latin America, where football is a “religion”, heroes are quickly adopted as their own. His name, “Haaland”, is exotic to Spanish speakers, which contributes to its popularity.

That a player from a small country such as Norway can inspire naming choices on the other side of the globe is a vivid example of how a single sporting star can put the country on the map – extending all the way into Peruvian children’s rooms.

🇳🇴 Erling Haaland has been doing things on a football pitch that shouldn't be humanly possible.

Bicycle kicks, thunderbolt headers, casual goals from impossible angles, all mixed with the occasional moment of pure chaos, and of course, smashing the ball straight into his…

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 7, 2026