100,000 People In Norway Gathered To Welcome Their Team Home After Their Best-Ever World Cup Run
The team performed the "Viking Row," with Crown Prince Haakon leading the crowd on drums, then paraded the streets of central Oslo with an open-top bus.
More than 100,000 people packed the streets of Oslo to welcome home Norway's football team after their best-ever World Cup run.
Norway had not played at a men's football World Cup since 1998.
It qualified for the 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and topped its qualifying group behind a scoring streak from striker Erling Haaland, who is considered one of the best forwards in the world.
During the tournament, Norway kept winning, beating Côte d'Ivoire in the round of 32, then facing five-time champions Brazil in the round of 16, sending the team to the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
Norway's run ended on Saturday, July 11, when England beat them 2-1 in extra time in Miami.
On Monday, July 13, the team flew home to Oslo, where military jets escorted their plane and ground staff gave it a ceremonial water salute.
More than 100,000 people gathered outside the Royal Palace in the Norwegian capital, where King Harald and other members of the royal family received the players.
The team performed the "Viking Row," a synchronized and rhythmic chant where thousands of fans move in unison, imitating Viking rowers on a ship, with Crown Prince Haakon leading the crowd on drums, then paraded the streets of central Oslo with an open-top bus.
Captain Martin Odegaard told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that the support the team received, both in the US and at home, had been beyond anything the players expected.
Haaland, who finished the tournament with seven goals and shared the race for the tournament's top scorer, returned home with a stuffed taxidermy raccoon clutching a whiskey bottle as a souvenir from the US, but missed the palace celebration and the open-top bus parade.
Coach Stale Solbakken said Haaland and teammate Sander Berge had to leave early to catch a flight after the team's trip from the US was delayed by four hours.
Both players met privately with King Harald before departing.
More On US-Mexico-Canada World Cup 2026
Sofia Hou
Cherry Mohamed
