Oslo, Norway’s capital, witnessed an overwhelming turnout of over 100,000 fans who flooded the streets, transforming the disappointment of their World Cup exit into a grand celebration.
On Saturday, Norway faced a heartbreaking 2-1 extra-time defeat against England, ending their remarkable journey in the quarter-finals and dashing their hopes for a semi-final appearance. However, this setback did not deter the nation from honoring their heroes. Under the radiant summer sun, throngs of supporters filled the grounds of the Royal Palace early Monday afternoon, with unofficial estimates suggesting attendance exceeded 100,000.
The Norwegian squad arrived to a traditional water cannon salute, marking the start of their homecoming parade. Supporters swiftly gathered in the palace square, which extended far down Karl Johans gate as the team first attended an audience with King Harald V.
“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,” said Catherine Breiland, a devoted Norway fan.
The players emerged to greet their fans, with the Royal Guard standing at attention behind them. Notably, striker Erling Haaland was missing from the final celebration stage, having departed early. His early exit meant he missed the opportunity to join his teammates on the palace steps for a final “Erling and Sander [Berge] had to catch their plane as our trip from the US was delayed four hours,” which was led by Crown Prince Haakon playing the drum, with tens of thousands of fans gathered below.
“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,” commented Norway’s head coach, Ståle Solbakken. The squad prepared to continue the festivities with an open-top bus parade around Oslo. The bus was slowed by the massive crowds in central Oslo, requiring it to reverse at one point as police escorts struggled to clear a path. Nevertheless, Norway’s players celebrated with drinks and waved to fans as the festivities carried on well into the night.
“I don’t think anyone had imagined this,”
shared Nicolai Sivesind, who traveled to Oslo for World Cup events.
A moment of irony occurred when the parade was halted by low-hanging overhead cables. Players, who had been standing and waving flags on the top deck, were forced to sit down to navigate the obstruction before the double-decker could move forward. Earlier, Solbakken expressed his belief that a camera cable above the pitch had interfered with the ball just before Jude Bellingham scored England’s equalizer in the first half. FIFA has consistently denied that the ball made contact with any cable prior to the goal.
After hours of festivities, the parade concluded its 1.3km journey at City Hall Square, where tens of thousands of eager supporters remained to welcome the team. “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.” remarked Norway captain Martin Ødegaard to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “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.”
