Liverpool fans may have spotted the club's shirt being worn by one of Norway's stars ahead of the World Cup, with the Reds being represented by a surprise player at the tournament
13:52, 10 Jun 2026Updated 13:52, 10 Jun 2026
from left : Norway's midfielder #23 Thelo Aasgaard, Norway's captain #09 Erling Braut Haaland, Norway's midfielder #06 Patrick Berg and Norway's defender #17 Torbjorn Lysaker Heggem celebrate their victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool academy player Thelo Aasgaard (left) will be at the World Cup with Norway(Image: Getty Images)
One World Cup star has caught the eye after sporting a Liverpool shirt during his country’s team photo - despite never actually playing for the Reds.
The tournament gets underway on Thursday, with Mexico kicking things off against South Africa. This year will see the biggest ever World Cup across North America, having been expanded to 48 teams, which will see the return of a few countries after a long hiatus.
Among them is Norway, which makes its first appearance at the tournament since 1998. Manchester City star Erling Haaland is of course the biggest name in the team this year, but there was another player standing out during the team photo.
Norway came up with the novel idea of having its players line up in the shirts of the clubs where they started their careers. Liverpool fans looking at the photo will have noticed one player representing the Reds, although he will be an unfamiliar face to many.
Thelo Aasgaard is the player donning the 2026/27 Liverpool shirt. The midfielder currently plies his trade for Scottish Premiership side Rangers, having had previous spells at Luton and Wigan in England.
The 24-year-old was actually born in Liverpool, hailing from the city’s suburb of Mossley Hill, and spent his early years in the Reds’ academy after joining the club in 2010.
Norway's players pose for a team photo ahead of the World Cup, donning the shirts of their youth teams
Thelo Aasgaard donned a Liverpool shirt for Norway's team photo ahead of the World Cup(Image: Herrelandslaget/Instagram)
Aasgaard counts Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres as two of his earliest heroes, having grown up as a Liverpool fan, and spent six years on the club’s books, but never made the step up to the senior team before joining Wigan in 2016.
Speaking about his call-up for the World Cup, his dad Johnathan - through who Thelo qualifies for Norway - reflected on his son’s journey from Liverpool to featuring on the biggest stage in international soccer.
"I think he's had more than his fair share [of tough moments],” Johnathan told the Liverpool Echo.
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"Getting dropped at the Liverpool academy when he was 14 was tough, you sort of re-evaluate a little bit. And I asked him 'are you sure this is what you want to do?' and he said 'yes dad, 100 percent'.”
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Revealing his reaction to Thelo’s call-up, Johnathan added: "I just gave him a big hug, I just said 'I'm made up for you'. I think he brings something special to any team, with his technical ability. I said to him 'I think it's absolutely on merit' and I just gave him a massive hug."
Aasgaard will be hoping to get the nod when Norway kicks off its tournament against Iraq on June 16, with games against Senegal and France rounding off the group stage.