When Kalshi put out the call for Erling Haaland lookalikes in Miami ahead of Norway's World Cup match against England, we weren't sure what kind of turnout to expect. But as it turns out, there are a lot of tall blondes with strong jawlines in South Florida.
Over 200 people showed up for the event, which was hosted by Emma Kate Willman, an influencer who went viral earlier this year for her own uncanny resemblance to Haaland. When it came time to find someone to run the contest, the choice was obvious. Who better to judge a Haaland lookalike competition than someone the internet already decided looks exactly like him?
The crowd picked their champion
There was no panel of experts, and no point system. Instead, the contestants were judged the old-fashioned way: crowd noise from the fans who packed the venue. When the cheering died down, one man stood above the rest.
Perry Tegnander, a Norwegian who had been traveling across the United States leading crowd chants at World Cup games took the crown. His prize: two tickets to the Norway v England match that day.
A Norwegian fan who became a World Cup fixture
Perry wasn't just a random entrant. By the time he walked into the contest, he had already become something of a cult figure among Norway's traveling supporters, recognizable from the stands at matches across the country, always somewhere near the front of the chant section.
That energy translated. The crowd recognized one of their own.
Even Norwegian press showed up to cover it — which makes perfect sense when you think about it. A hometown hero winning a Haaland lookalike contest in Miami on the day Norway plays England? That's a story back home.
The full scene
In case you missed it, here's more from the day:
Perry, if you're reading this: well played.
You came to the United States as a fan, became a fixture of the tournament, and left Miami with two tickets to watch your country play, and a Haaland lookalike crown to go with it. Not a bad day's work.
