Around 90,000 fans welcomed Norway’s national team back to Oslo on Monday after an extraordinary journey that carried the squad into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Homecoming after a breakthrough World Cup run
Norway’s campaign ended on Saturday when Erling Haaland’s team were eliminated in the last eight, falling 2-1 to England after extra-time in Miami—Norway’s best-ever finish at the tournament.
Mass celebration in Oslo
The celebrations in Norway’s capital gathered pace as the players arrived and the crowd filled the square directly in front of the royal palace. Fans greeted the team with the crowd’s newly iconic “Viking Row” ceremony.
- About 90,000 people turned out in Oslo to welcome the squad back.
- The main gathering took place in the square outside the royal palace.
- Supporters performed the “Viking Row” as the players arrived.
Royal presence and player reactions
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway—next in line to lead the country of 5.6 million people—fronted the festivities by leading the celebration with a drum. He was also present in Miami during the team’s defeat to England.
Captain Martin Odegaard spoke about the scale of the backing the squad received, telling public broadcaster NRK that it was “simply incredible to see all the support we receive and to see how much the country is behind us,” adding: “It’s really fantastic.” The Arsenal playmaker also described the moment as especially meaningful.
Haaland’s day and absence from the event
Haaland touched down in Norway earlier in the day and shared an image on social media showing him walking from the plane while holding a stuffed raccoon with a glass bottle of alcohol in its claws.
However, NRK reported that the Manchester City forward—who scored seven goals at the World Cup—could not join the celebrations because he had a plane to catch.
