A Hero’s Welcome in the Heart of Oslo

The Norway national team was honored on Monday in a historic celebration held at Oslo’s City Hall, marking their long-awaited return to a World Cup. The ceremony was led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, along with Minister of Culture Lubna Jeffrey and Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe.

Once the official reception ended, players and coaching staff stepped onto the balcony of City Hall to greet more than 50,000 fans gathered in the square—despite the freezing temperatures that swept the Norwegian capital.

“It’s unbelievable. You can feel the support and the love from everyone here today… it’s fantastic. Thank you so much,” said team captain Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal star who missed the recent qualification matches due to injury.

Haaland, Ødegaard and a Nation United in Celebration

The atmosphere reached its peak when Erling Haaland, striker for Manchester City, addressed the crowd. “It’s fantastic. I’m proud to represent this team and this country,” he said, visibly moved by the sheer size and passion of the supporters.

When asked about Norway’s chances of winning the World Cup, Haaland cooled expectations: “Well, well… let’s take it easy. Beating Italy was already fantastic.”

The celebration continued with the traditional anthem “Alt for Norge” (“All for Norway”), sung in unison by players and fans—an iconic song for the national team since the 1994 World Cup. After more than 30 minutes of festivities, players prepared to move on to a popular restaurant-bar in Oslo, where fans would also be welcomed, though the squad would have a private area reserved.

The message was clear: Norway is dreaming again, united behind a golden generation that brought the country back onto the world stage after nearly three decades.