Around 90,000 fans gathered in Oslo on Monday to welcome Norway’s national football team following their historic run to the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Despite a 2-1 extra-time loss to England in Miami last Saturday, the squad received a hero’s reception, highlighted by the traditional “Viking Row” celebration.
Homecoming Celebrations at the Royal Palace
The atmosphere in Norway’s capital was electric as roughly 90,000 supporters filled the square in front of the royal palace to greet the team. The homecoming marked the conclusion of a tournament that saw the nation of 5.6 million people reach the last eight for the first time in their history. Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, the heir apparent to the throne, led the celebration with a drum after also being present at the defeat in Miami.
Coaching Decisions and the Departure of Erling Haaland
Notably absent from the final minutes of the match was Erling Haaland, who was substituted at the start of the second half of extra time. The 25-year-old had to watch his team struggle to rally against England without his assistance, marking the first time he had not found the back of the net in an international match since playing Austria on October 13, 2024—a span of 636 days.
For more on this story, see Haaland’s Norway Stuns Brazil with 2-1 Win, Ends Brazilian World Cup Run.
Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken defended the decision, noting that Haaland’s energy waned as the match progressed. It was not a tough decision to take him out because he was finished, and maybe I should have taken him out 10 minutes before, but he obviously (had) the tremendous World Cup,
Solbakken said. Used all his energy and power for game after game after game. I think that he also got dead leg in the second half. So that, combined with the fatigue … he did everything he could.
This follows our earlier report, France Projected as Undisputed Favorites After Dominant 2026 World Cup Run.
Reflecting on the 2-1 Quarter-Final Defeat
The match against England saw Norway take an early lead with a 36th-minute goal. England’s Jude Bellingham leveled the score at the 47th minute with a controversial goal Norway alleged hit a wire, before scoring again in the 93rd minute to end Norway’s tournament dreams. Midfielder Patrick Berg noted the team’s disappointment regarding the officiating and the narrow loss. It is what it is, you can’t do much after it after,
Berg said. I think we feel more done by the 2-1, but … tough to take (in) a tight, close game. And they came out on top, and we pushed on until then. Did everything we could.
Read also: Santi Cañizares Analyzes the Best Goalkeepers of the 2026 World Cup.
Find more reporting in our Sport news section.
Related reading
