Following a six-week tour of the United States, members of the Norwegian national football team were greeted by approximately 70,000 fans in Oslo on Monday. While the majority of the squad participated in public celebrations at the Royal Palace, Erling Braut Haaland and Sander Berge departed for Italy shortly after meeting the King, citing pre-arranged travel commitments that could not be rescheduled due to flight delays, according to reports from VG and TV 2.
Logistical Constraints and Royal Protocol
The national team’s return to Norway was marked by significant delays. According to head coach Ståle Solbakken, the team was held up in the United States for three to four hours, disrupting the players’ carefully planned schedules. Speaking to TV 2, Solbakken noted that the travel delays were not the fault of the players, but they ultimately necessitated an early exit for Haaland and Berge to make their private flight from Gardermoen.
Despite the time crunch, both players attended the official reception at the Royal Palace to greet His Majesty the King. Captain Martin Ødegaard confirmed to NRK that while the squad would have preferred for everyone to stay for the full celebration, the logistical reality of the travel day made it impossible for all members to remain.
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Upon arrival at Gardermoen, Erling Braut Haaland was spotted carrying a stuffed raccoon, which he had previously featured on his Snapchat account. The item was reportedly purchased at Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, Texas, during the team’s stay.
Public Engagement at the Royal Palace
While Haaland and Berge headed for a private jet bound for Catania, Sicily, the remainder of the team joined the festivities in Oslo. Thousands of supporters gathered along the 450-meter stretch between the Royal Palace and the University Square to welcome the players home.
The event, which included members of the Royal Family such as Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus, served as a formal end to the team’s extended trip. Ørjan Nyland told NRK that the experience of seeing the massive turnout was memorable, while Ødegaard described the invitation to the Palace as a “very fine marking” of the team’s efforts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Erling Braut Haaland and Sander Berge leave the celebration early?
According to NFF and Ståle Solbakken, the duo had pre-arranged travel commitments that could not be broken after the team’s flight from the US was delayed by several hours. - How many people attended the celebration in Oslo?
Over 70,000 people gathered between the Royal Palace and the University Square to greet the players, as reported by VG. - Where did the players travel after arriving in Norway?
Haaland and Berge boarded a private flight from Gardermoen to Catania, Italy, late Monday evening.
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