Over 100,000 enthusiastic supporters filled the streets of Oslo, transforming the sorrow of their World Cup elimination into a grand national celebration. The Norwegian team’s journey came to an abrupt end after a 2-1 extra-time defeat against England on Saturday, dashing their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. Nevertheless, this did not deter the nation from honoring their heroes.
On a bright Monday afternoon, massive crowds gathered at the Royal Palace, where the team was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute as they began their homecoming parade. The enthusiastic supporters quickly filled the palace square and extended down Karl Johans gate, as the players first met with King Harald V.
Norway fan Catherine Breiland expressed her pride, stating, “I have felt very proud, it has been amazing, I have been both at home and in Spain, and the atmosphere between the Norwegian people has been there all the time, so it has been unbelievable,”
As the team emerged to greet their fans, the Royal Guard stood at attention behind them. Notably, striker Erling Haaland was absent during the final moments of the celebrations, having left early. His early departure meant he missed a final “Erling and Sander [Berge] had to catch their plane as our trip from the US was delayed four hours,” alongside his teammates on the palace steps, a moment led by Crown Prince Haakon, who played the drum for the tens of thousands of fans below.
Head coach Ståle Solbakken explained, “The run the Norwegian team has had this year has been way beyond anything I’ve ever expected. I feel everybody in Norway should just honour the national team, which has done such an amazing job during this whole cup,” as the squad prepared for an open-top bus parade around the city. The bus faced delays due to the size of the crowd, even having to reverse at one point as police struggled to create a clear path. Undeterred, the players celebrated with drinks and waved to the fans while the festivities continued well into the night.
Nicolai Sivesind, who traveled to Oslo for the World Cup events, remarked, “I don’t think anyone had imagined this,”
The parade experienced a moment of irony as it was momentarily halted by low-hanging overhead cables. The players, who had been standing and waving flags from the top deck, were forced to sit down to allow the double-decker bus to pass safely.
Earlier, Solbakken had expressed his belief that a camera cable above the pitch interfered just before Jude Bellingham’s equalizer for England, a claim that Fifa has repeatedly denied. After hours of celebration, the parade concluded at City Hall Square, where thousands of devoted supporters awaited the team’s arrival. Norway captain Martin Ødegaard shared his surprise, stating, “The support we have received in the USA and here at home in Norway, has been beyond all expectations. It has been absolutely incredible to see.”
