Over 100,000 supporters flooded central Oslo on Monday to give Norway‘s national team a hero’s welcome, transforming World Cup heartbreak into a vast public celebration. The squad returned to the capital following their quarter-final exit, with fans lining the streets to honour the country’s historic tournament run.
Norway’s campaign ended on Saturday with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England in the quarter-finals. Yet the disappointment did little to dampen national pride. Massive crowds gathered at the Royal Palace early on Monday afternoon, filling the grounds and stretching down Karl Johans gate as players attended an audience with King Harald V.
Royal Reception
The squad emerged on the palace steps to greet supporters, with the Royal Guard standing to attention behind them. In a final display of unity, the team performed a “Viking row” led by Crown Prince Haakon on the drum, while tens of thousands of fans gathered below.
Striker Erling Haaland was notably absent from the closing stages of the ceremony. Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken explained that Haaland and midfielder Sander Berge had departed early to catch flights after the team’s arrival from the United States was delayed by four hours. “Erling and Sander [Berge] had to catch their plane as our trip from the US was delayed four hours,” Solbakken said.
Parade Through the Capital
Following the royal audience, the squad continued celebrations aboard an open-top bus for a 1.3km parade through central Oslo. The route proved challenging, with dense crowds slowing the vehicle to a halt at points and forcing police escorts to reverse the bus to carve a path.
The procession faced a brief interruption when low-hanging overhead cables forced players to sit down on the top deck to clear the obstruction. The incident carried particular irony given Solbakken had earlier suggested a camera cable might have interfered with play during the England match, though Fifa denied the ball touched any wire before Jude Bellingham’s equaliser.
The parade concluded hours later at City Hall Square, where thousands of patient supporters remained to greet the team long after dark.
Captain’s Gratitude
Norway captain Martin Ødegaard expressed astonishment at the scale of support. “I don’t think anyone had imagined this,” he told 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.”
The scenes marked a fitting conclusion to a tournament that captured the imagination of the Norwegian public, with Ødegaard and his teammates celebrating deep into the evening amid the capital’s summer streets.