Heroes’ welcome for Norway despite World Cup quarterfinal exit
OSLO: Norway’s remarkable FIFA World Cup campaign was celebrated in unforgettable fashion as more than 100,000 fans packed the streets of Oslo on Monday to welcome home the national team, despite its heartbreaking quarterfinal exit.
The Norwegians bowed out after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England, but supporters turned the homecoming into a nationwide celebration. Huge crowds gathered outside the Royal Palace before the squad, greeted with a traditional water cannon salute upon arrival, met King Harald and later appeared on the palace steps to thank fans.
The celebrations continued with an open-top bus parade through the capital, where massive crowds brought traffic to a standstill as players waved and celebrated with supporters. Striker Erling Haaland missed the final stage of the festivities after leaving early to catch a flight following travel delays.
Fans hailed the team’s historic World Cup run as one of Norway’s greatest football achievements, transforming the disappointment of elimination into a proud national celebration.
