World Cup
Haaland revels in Miami while Dutch internationals enjoy World Cup holidays
Erling Haaland celebrated the closing stages of the World Cup by heading to Miami, where he joined teammates at Club E11even after Norway’s 2‑1 quarter‑final defeat to England. At the same time, Dutch internationals Denzel Dumfries, Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders were photographed on holiday, a scene first shared on Instagram.
Norway’s coach Stale Solbakken delivered an emotional locker‑room speech after the loss, saying, “I was almost crying because I am so proud of you… you have made a perfect summer for an entire country.” The quote was posted alongside positive reactions from Norwegian and Swedish fans, including comedian Fredrik Fornes and actress Melina Goransson.
Following the England match, Haaland and a group of teammates headed to Club E11even in Miami, where they danced to Flo Rida’s upbeat tracks, a fitting release after a month of top‑level competition. The night was described as a “proper party” for the 25‑year‑old striker and his colleagues.
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Not all Oranje players returned to Europe immediately. Frenkie de Jong celebrated with his wife Mikky and sons Miles and Mason in Montecito, north of Los Angeles. Noa Lang and Denzel Dumfries flew to Suriname, as shown in photos of their partners Blossom de Weerd and Jaimy Kenswiel, while Tijjani Reijnders travelled with his wife Marina and son Xavién to the Turks and Caicos Islands, just above the Dominican Republic. In Mexico, fans gathered on the Zócalo square in Mexico City to trade Panini stickers, hoping to complete their World Cup albums during the tournament’s final week. The massive gathering highlighted the event’s cultural reach beyond the pitch. Elsewhere in the football world, former Manchester United forward Diego Forlán was announced as the interim head coach of Uruguay, succeeding Marcelo Bielsa. The appointment follows Uruguay’s disappointing group‑stage exit, which saw them finish behind Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. Separately, former French midfielder Patrick Vieira has been linked to the Senegal national team job after the dismissal of Pape Bouna Thiaw. The speculation comes as Senegal’s campaign ended in the round of 16 against Belgium, a match decided by a late winning goal.