Who needs a trophy when you have 100,000 fans chanting your name? Norway may have fallen short of their World Cup dreams, but events at home told a completely different story. The national team returned to Oslo to a roaring welcome, with large crowds turning sadness into full-blown celebration. Under the summer sun, more than 100,000 supporters packed into Norway’s capital, turning the city into a festival of flags, songs, and pure emotion.
Fans lined the streets from the Royal Palace to the foot of the Karl Johans Gate, creating a wave of red and white that stretched as far as the eye could see. The atmosphere was electric, culminating in a nation that refused to let a 2-1 defeat by England define their team’s legacy.
A royal welcome is fit for heroes
The celebrations began in style when the troop arrived with the traditional welcome of the lighting water before going to meet King Harald. Moments later, the players walked out onto the palace grounds, greeted by loud cheers and the Imperial Guard standing proudly behind them. But the real time followed.
The national team passes through Oslo on a high-top bus from the Royal Palace to City Hall, with people lining the streets to celebrate Norway’s historic World Cup success. pic.twitter.com/aAXJn7Z6vk
– Joakim 🌹🇳🇴🇪🇺 (@joakial_) July 13, 2026
‘Viking Row’ takes over
In a live action film, tens of thousands of fans came together for the final “Viking row”, a synchronized celebration that has become a signature ritual of Norway’s World Cup. Leading the charge was Prince Haakon himself, who took a drum on the palace steps as the crowd moved in unison. One notable absence, however, was star striker Erling Haaland, who had already left due to travel delays. “Erling and Sander had to catch their flight,” coach Stale Solbakken explained.
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway beats the drum as the Norwegian people and the national team line up together. pic.twitter.com/OFxL4x8Nhv
– Joakim 🌹🇳🇴🇪🇺 (@joakial_) July 13, 2026
If the palace shows were wild, the parade through Oslo took things to another level. The top bus carrying the team was repeatedly slowed down by the large crowd, sometimes even having to reverse as police scrambled to clear the way. And in a moment of irony, cables hanging down temporarily halted the party, forcing the dancers to silence before continuing, but nothing could stop the festivities. Players waved, laughed, and even cracked open a beer as fans cheered into the night.
Despite getting out of the quarter-finals, the Norwegian race attracted a lot of attention around the world. “I don’t think anyone thought this through,” captain Martin Odegaard said. “The support has been beyond all expectations.”
🇳🇴 NORWAY IS GOING TO FULL VIKING MODE!
🥁 🚣 The national team have just dropped the perfect Viking rowing performance at the Royal Palace… with OVER 100,000 fans roaring together in one big celebration!
🫶This is what national pride looks like! pic.twitter.com/UQsH6iu0Le
– FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) July 14, 2026
Seeing the Prince leading the celebration tells you everything about what this team means to the country.
Soccer is more than a game
🇳🇴❤️⚽ pic.twitter.com/7aeBSmC3xt— Sivu (@SivuMtumemizi) July 14, 2026
🇳🇴 | A great crowd of Norwegian fans welcome the players home outside the Royal Palace in Oslo…🔥👏🏻#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YNUtBnckb6
– ULTRA ATTACKIVE (@UltraAttackive) July 13, 2026
Ro! Ro! – The Norwegian World Cup team “row” with 90,000 people outside the Royal Palace in Oslo https://t.co/wWXQkVX7I5 pic.twitter.com/kEmHOV11ZD
– Nordic News (@Nordic_News) July 13, 2026
🚨 BREAKING:
Erling Braut Haaland met King Harald V of Norway. King Harald’s surprised reaction when he saw Haaland has spread on social networks. pic.twitter.com/eVMA5xKGYC
– GBC (@GBC_Press) July 13, 2026
And judging by the events in Oslo, this was not the end of the dream. It was the beginning of something bigger.
