Norway's World Cup Team Gets Heroes' Welcome Home in Oslo
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- Norway reached the men's World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the country's history this summer, beating five-time winners Brazil in the round of 16 before being eliminated by England
- Erling Haaland scored seven goals across Norway's first World Cup campaign in 28 years, with the source noting his 'global fame reached new heights'
- Norwegian military jets escorted the team's plane back to Oslo, where players crowded around windows to watch, ahead of a royal reception and an open-top bus parade through the capital
- Crown Prince Haakon led the now-customary 'Viking Row' celebration, banging on a drum in the same style captain Martin Ødegaard and Haaland had used after each World Cup victory
- Haaland prompted laughter walking off the plane carrying what appeared to be a taxidermied raccoon holding an empty bottle
- Jude Bellingham's extra-time goal in Miami sent England through at Norway's expense, setting up a semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday
Why it matters: Norway's quarterfinal run — their first men's World Cup appearance in 28 years — and Haaland's seven-goal haul elevate a once-overlooked program into genuine contender status, but Bellingham's extra-time strike means the team watched the semifinals from home rather than playing in them. The raucous Oslo reception, complete with a royal-led Viking Row, formalizes the squad's status as national icons.
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