Norway's Ostigard becomes a father via FaceTime during World Cup, after scoring in opener

A dream week

Leo Ostigard's first World Cup has been a whirlwind. On the night of 16–17 June, the 26-year-old Genoa defender came off the bench for Norway against Iraq in Group I and headed in the third goal of a 4-1 victory. It was the first goal scored by a Serie A player at the 2026 tournament. Three days later, on 20 June, his partner Aurora Eidmann gave birth to their first child, a boy named Atlas. Ostigard, still with the squad in the United States, followed the entire labour on FaceTime.

The pact

Before the tournament, the couple agreed that if the birth went smoothly, Ostigard would stay with the national team and attend remotely. The defender told Norwegian media the decision was made together. "She knew how important it was for me to represent Norway at the World Cup," he said. Eidmann delivered without complications, and Ostigard kept his side of the bargain, never leaving the camp.

A remote birth

Speaking after the birth, Ostigard described the experience as overwhelming.

“It's the greatest experience of my life. I'm exhausted too, it was incredible. She was amazing, I'm so proud. When I saw him for the first time, I was speechless.”

He added that he simply tried to be present for Eidmann, even from thousands of kilometres away.

Doku's contrasting choice

The Ostigard story unfolded alongside a debate over Belgian winger Jérémy Doku. The Manchester City player said he would leave the World Cup, even during the knockout stage, to attend the birth of his first child, due in mid-July. French journalist France Pierron called the father "useless" and "just an extra" during childbirth, sparking backlash. Doku had stated,

“It's my first child, I really want to be there. No father should miss such an event.”

Team celebration

The Norwegian Football Federation posted a video of Ostigard's teammates, including Erling Haaland, Sander Berge and Jørgen Strand Larsen, congratulating him in his hotel room. The moment added a layer of joy to a Norway side that opened its campaign with three points and four goals in a group also containing France and Senegal.