Up to 100,000 Norwegians salute World Cup squad in Oslo as Crown Prince leads Viking row on palace steps

A quarter-final run ends, a nation celebrates

Norway's 2026 World Cup campaign concluded on 11 July with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England in the quarter-finals, the country's best performance in four tournament appearances. That result did not temper the public mood. Two days later, on Monday 13 July, the squad flew home from the United States to an elaborate reception in Oslo. The plane, nicknamed "Ro Ro Ro Ro Airlines" by one Belgian outlet, touched down after a four-hour delay and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute. Erling Haaland stepped off carrying a stuffed raccoon bought at a Dallas souvenir shop, a detail noted by RTBF.

Royal Palace audience and crowds in the square

The players went first to the Royal Palace for an audience with King Harald V. Police operations chief Lars Kostveit estimated the crowd at around 90,000, while separate reports from Reuters and The Guardian put the unofficial turnout at more than 100,000. Supporters filled the palace grounds and stretched far down Karl Johans gate, Oslo's main thoroughfare. One fan, Catherine Breiland, told The Guardian she had followed the team from home and from Spain: "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."

The Viking row, led by a prince

The squad emerged onto the palace steps to perform the "Viking row," a rhythmic call-and-response that became the team's trademark during the tournament. Crown Prince Haakon took the drum and set the tempo; he had attended several matches in North America during the competition. Captain Martin Ödegaard later told public broadcaster NRK: "It is simply incredible to observe all the support we receive and how the whole country stands behind us. So much joy, smiles and good cheer. It is truly fantastic."

It is simply incredible to observe all the support we receive and how the whole country stands behind us. So much joy, smiles and good cheer. It is truly fantastic.

Two key absences explained

Erling Haaland was absent from the palace-steps celebration. Head coach Ståle Solbakken told reporters that Haaland and midfielder Sander Berge had to leave early because the team's flight from the United States was delayed by four hours. Norwegian media (NRK, cited by Digi24 and Ziare.com) reported that Haaland had nonetheless attended the earlier reception hosted by King Harald. His empty spot during the public Viking row left Crown Prince Haakon as the focal point of the drum-led ritual.

Open-top bus and an improvised parade

After the palace events, the party moved to an open-top bus that wound through central Oslo. The crowds slowed the bus to a standstill, and police escorts struggled to clear a path; The Guardian noted the parade was briefly halted by low-hanging overhead cables. As the evening wore on, players continued to celebrate with beer and waved to fans who stayed long after dark. Nicolai Sivesind, who travelled to Oslo specifically for the World Cup festivities, told The Guardian: "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."

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.

Return in context

Norway's path to the last eight began with a second-place group-stage finish behind France. The team then eliminated Ivory Coast in the round of 32 (2-1) and Brazil in the round of 16 (2-1) before falling to England after extra time. Monday's homecoming was the country's first mass football celebration since returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence, and the crowd estimates make it one of the largest public gatherings in Oslo in recent years.