Erling Haaland’s Taxidermy Raccoon: A World Cup Souvenir Story

Erling Haaland, the prolific striker for Manchester City and Norway, has returned from the FIFA World Cup with an unconventional souvenir: a taxidermy raccoon. The unusual item was spotted as Haaland disembarked the team plane in Oslo, Norway, following the team’s quarter-final exit from the tournament.

A Unique World Cup Memento

Haaland, who enjoyed a strong debut World Cup campaign with seven goals in five matches, became a significant draw during the tournament in North America. His popularity surged, with his Instagram following growing by over 22 million. Upon returning to Norway, he was photographed carrying the taxidermy raccoon, which was holding an empty bottle of Greenall’s wild berry gin.

The raccoon was purchased during a visit to Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, Texas, a store that has been a fixture in the city for nearly 50 years. During his visit, Haaland also acquired snakeskin cowboy boots and a cowboy hat customized with his initials and jersey number.

Wild Bill’s Western Store, based in Dallas, reported a significant increase in interest and sales following Haaland’s visit. The taxidermy raccoon, previously listed for $750 (£562; €659), quickly sold out. The store’s owner, Julie Newport, confirmed that Haaland purchased the items, rather than receiving them as gifts.

“We’ve had a couple of these taxidermy raccoons in the store for the last few years, and he obviously gravitated to that and a couple of the squirrels,” Newport told The Athletic. “Since he posted on social media, we ordered another raccoon — we put it out on the floor today but by the time we put it on the floor, someone already bought it online.”

Haaland’s Dallas Experience

Haaland himself described Dallas as an “amazing” city and expressed his intention to return. In a vlog shared on his YouTube channel on July 3, he commented on the positive and enjoyable atmosphere in the city. “The people are so nice here, so positive. I don’t know what it is, they’re just enjoying life,” he stated.

Newport mentioned that Haaland’s visit was arranged with short notice. The team contacted the store the day before the match, with security and coordination dictating the final confirmation. When the visit was confirmed, the store took measures to ensure privacy for the footballer and his team.

“Lock the doors. We’re going to make this special for him,” Newport recalled telling her manager, Miguel, upon learning that Haaland was arriving. The store closed its doors to the public for about an hour and a half, allowing Haaland and his companions to explore the store and enjoy the experience.

Impact on the Western Store

Haaland’s visit has had a substantial impact on Wild Bill’s Western Store, particularly its online presence. The store, which had not previously engaged in international business, saw a surge in online orders, with approximately 30% originating from outside the U.S. after implementing international shipping.

“It’s been really exciting and everybody wants to recreate the moment on the steps. They want the boots and we’ve set up a picture of him, which has become a shrine,” Newport shared. “Then, at the end of all of it, I felt really bad that people were starting to ask him for photos, but he autographed two FIFA balls for us for us that I had here in the store, and my hat that’s sitting up in the hat bar, so I guess you could say this is a huge blessing.”

Haaland’s social media activity further amplified the store’s newfound fame. He shared videos of the raccoon and other stuffed animals, humorously referring to them as “geezers” and later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the raccoon “followed him home.” He also engaged his followers on Instagram by asking for name suggestions for his new companion, offering options like “Cowboy,” “Ranger,” “Tex,” and “R.O.W. (Raccoon on wheels).”

The story highlights an interesting intersection of global sports stardom and niche American retail, showcasing how a high-profile athlete’s personal interests can create unexpected marketing moments.

Key facts

Source: The Athletic Football, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7443490/2026/07/13/erling-haaland-world-cup-raccoon/