The Three Lions will start the game in sweltering Miami as favourites but will be wary of a Norway side that boasts a genuine global superstar in Erling Haaland.
The Manchester City striker has been in sensational form at the World Cup, scoring seven goals in his four appearances to date in North America.
But had events over the course of Haaland’s life unfolded differently, the 25-year-old could have been representing England, and not Norway, in Florida this weekend.
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Having been born in Leeds, and having spent the first three years of his life in the UK, Haaland would have been entitled to British citizenship and thus would have been allowed to play for England.
This all came about because Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, was a professional footballer himself and was playing for Leeds United when his son was born in July 2000.
Haaland could have been playing for England at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Haaland Senior joined Leeds in 1997 and made over 70 appearances for the Yorkshire club during his three year spell at Elland Road, before joining Manchester City shortly after Erling was born.
The family stayed together in England for three years until they moved back to Bryne, in Norway, where Haaland was raised.
But despite the prospect of playing for England, Haaland was set on playing for his native country from the very beginning.
‘I lived here [England] for three-and-a-half-to-four years and I lived in Norway for such a long time, so then it was natural for me to choose Norway,’ Haaland said.
Erling was born in Leeds during his father’s time in Yorkshire (Picture: Getty)
‘You never know how it would be if maybe my father played longer in England or whatever. Maybe I would be English, I don’t know.
‘But yeah, I’m Norwegian and I’m proud of it.’
Having played in a competitive game for Norway, FIFA’s eligibility rules means that Haaland will now never be able to play for England.
England’s loss has been Norway’s gain, with his 62 goals in 54 appearances making him the country’s record goalscorer.
