Norwegian star Erling Haaland and his teammates were greeted by tens of thousands of jubilant fans in Oslo on Monday as they returned home after their groundbreaking World Cup run in North America.
This summer marked a historic milestone for Norway, as they advanced to the men’s World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever, triumphing over five-time champions Brazil in the round of 16, before being eliminated by England.
Haaland’s global profile soared as he netted seven goals during Norway’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
Videos shared on the team’s Instagram showcased players and coaches peering out of their plane windows at Norwegian military jets that escorted them back to Oslo, where a royal welcome awaited.
Upon his return, Haaland humorously walked down the plane steps holding what appeared to be a taxidermied raccoon clutching an empty bottle, drawing laughter from onlookers.
Crown Prince Haakon, along with enthusiastic supporters, participated in the “Viking Row” tradition that gained popularity during the tournament, echoing the celebration led by captain Martin Ødegaard and Haaland after their World Cup victories.
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The celebration continued with an open-top bus parade, where players and fans expressed their gratitude for a summer that will forever be etched in Norwegian soccer history.
Norway narrowly missed extending their World Cup adventure after an extra-time goal by Jude Bellingham in Miami secured England’s place in the semifinals against Argentina on Wednesday.