Norwegian Forward Alexander Sørloth Faces Death Threats After World Cup Exit

Following Norway's dramatic 2-1 extra-time loss to England in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, striker Alexander Sørloth has become the target of severe online abuse and death threats. The controversy centers on a critical moment late in the first half when Norway led 1-0. Sørloth had a clear chance to pass to teammate Erling Haaland, who was unmarked in front of an open goal, but instead chose to shoot himself. His shot was blocked by England's defender John Stones, allowing England to equalize later and eventually win in extra time.

Sørloth's decision not to assist Haaland sparked outrage among fans, especially Haaland's supporters, who flooded Sørloth's Instagram with thousands of angry comments accusing him of selfishness and blaming him for Norway's elimination. Some messages included harsh insults and calls for suicide. One user wrote, "Is it so hard to pass?" while another asked, "Are you jealous of Haaland?" The striker's last post received over 181,000 hostile responses.

Rumors circulated that Haaland unfollowed Sørloth on Instagram out of anger, but fact-checking revealed this was false, originating from a parody account. Both players still follow each other. The incident has ignited a major social media storm amid Norway's painful World Cup exit, highlighting tensions within the team and among fans.

The Norwegian team now faces the challenge of regrouping after this high-profile defeat, while Sørloth deals with the fallout from the public backlash. The World Cup continues to generate intense scrutiny over player decisions and team dynamics.