Norwegian males’s soccer staff arrives in Oslo, Norway, July 13, 2026. — ReutersÂ
OSLO: Greater than 100,000 followers flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Monday to offer their soccer staff a heroes’ welcome, turning the heartbreak of their World Cup exit into an enormous nationwide celebration.
A 2-1 extra-time defeat by England on Saturday introduced Norway’s historic run to an finish within the quarter-finals, shattering the Nordics’ goals of a spot within the final 4. Nonetheless, it didn’t cease the nation celebrating their heroes.
Huge crowds below the Norwegian summer season solar stuffed the grounds of the Royal Palace early on Monday afternoon, with an unofficial turnout estimated at greater than 100,000 folks.
The Norway squad touched all the way down to a standard water cannon salute earlier than commencing their homecoming parade within the capital.
Members of the Norwegian males’s soccer collect outdoors the palace as they rejoice their efficiency within the World Cup after returning to Oslo, Norway, July 13, 2026. — ReutersÂ
The road of supporters rapidly packed the palace sq. earlier than stretching far down the primary avenue, Karl Johans gate, because the squad first attended an viewers with King Harald.
“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,” Norway fan Catherine Breiland advised Reuters.
The staff stepped out to greet the followers with the Royal Guard standing to consideration behind them.
Striker Erling Haaland was noticeably absent from the ultimate stage of the celebrations, having left early.
The boys’s nationwide soccer staff is greeted by the viewers at Slottsplassen after returning to Norway from the USA, in Oslo, Norway, July 13, 2026. — ReutersÂ
His departure meant he missed becoming a member of his teammates on the palace steps for one final “Viking row”, with tens of hundreds of followers gathered under, which was led by Crown Prince Haakon on the drums.
“Erling and Sander (Berge) had to catch their plane as our trip from the US was delayed four hours,” coach Stale Solbakken mentioned, because the squad ready to proceed the celebrations in an open-top bus parade round Oslo.
Crowds slowed the bus to a halt by way of central Oslo, forcing it to reverse at one level as police escorts struggled to carve out a path. Undeterred, Norway’s gamers celebrated with beer and waved because the occasion continued lengthy after darkish.
“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,” mentioned Nicolai Sivesind, who travelled to Oslo to participate in World Cup occasions.
Cables pause Norwegian celebrations
There was a second of irony when the parade was halted by low-hanging overhead cables.Â
The boys’s nationwide soccer staff is greeted by the viewers at Slottsplassen after returning to Norway from the USA, in Oslo, Norway, July 13, 2026. — ReutersÂ
The gamers, who had been standing and waving flags on the highest deck, had been compelled to sit down all the way down to clear the obstruction earlier than the double-decker might proceed.
Solbakken mentioned earlier he was satisfied the ball hit a digital camera cable above the pitch simply earlier than Jude Bellingham scored England’s equaliser within the first half of the quarter-final.
World soccer’s governing physique Fifa has repeatedly denied that the ball touched any wire earlier than the purpose.
Hours after the parade started, it accomplished the 1.3-km route at Metropolis Corridor Sq., the place tens of hundreds of affected person supporters had been nonetheless ready to welcome the staff.
“I don’t think anyone had imagined this,” captain Martin Odegaard advised 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.”
