More than 100,000 supporters lined the streets of Oslo on Monday as Norway’s national team returned home to a heroes’ welcome despite their World Cup quarter-final exit.
Norway’s remarkable campaign ended with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England on Saturday, but fans turned the homecoming into one of the country’s biggest football celebrations.
The squad arrived in the Norwegian capital to a traditional water cannon salute before beginning a parade through the city. Thousands gathered outside the Royal Palace, where the players met King Harald before greeting supporters from the palace steps.
The celebrations included Norway’s now-famous “Viking row”, led by Crown Prince Haakon on the drums. Erling Haaland missed that moment after leaving early to catch a flight alongside teammate Sander Berge.
“Erling and Sander had to catch their plane as our trip from the U.S. was delayed four hours,” coach Stale Solbakken said.
The open-top bus parade then moved through central Oslo, although huge crowds forced the vehicle to stop several times. At one stage, low-hanging overhead cables brought the parade to a halt. Players briefly sat down on the top deck before the bus continued its journey.
The incident echoed Solbakken’s claim after the England defeat that the ball struck a camera cable before Jude Bellingham scored the equaliser. FIFA has repeatedly rejected that suggestion.
The parade finished at City Hall Square, where thousands of supporters were still waiting to cheer the team.
“I don’t think anyone had imagined this,” captain Martin Odegaard told 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.”
Norway fell short of a semi-final place, but the reception in Oslo reflected the impact of a team that united the country during its deepest World Cup run in decades.
