Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to let Canada "share" star striker Erling Haaland [1].

The exchange highlights Canada's growing soccer ambitions and uses sports diplomacy to build rapport between allies during high-stakes geopolitical meetings.

The interaction took place July 7, 2024 [1], during a trilateral meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey [1]. Carney said he wanted to bring up Haaland following Norway's 2-1 upset victory over Brazil [2]. That win allowed Norway to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals [2].

Carney's pitch for the striker was framed as a way to bolster Canada's prospects for the next FIFA World Cup [1]. The request was made in an attempt to inject banter into the diplomatic proceedings — a move that coincided with Norway's recent success on the pitch.

Støre did not entertain the proposal. "He's not for sale," Støre said [3].

The two leaders were appearing together as part of the broader summit agenda in Turkey. While the primary focus of the meetings involved security and defense cooperation among NATO members, the brief diversion into sports provided a rare moment of levity during the international gathering [1].

“"He's not for sale."”

This interaction serves as an example of 'soft diplomacy,' where leaders use shared cultural interests—in this case, global soccer—to ease tensions and build personal rapport. By referencing Haaland's performance and Norway's victory over Brazil, Carney aligned Canada's national sporting aspirations with a moment of Norwegian pride, attempting to create a friendly bond between the two heads of government outside of formal security policy.