Norway World Cup heroes received a huge Oslo welcome after reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history

Norway’s national football team, led by captain Martin Odegaard and striker Erling Haaland, received a remarkable homecoming celebration in Oslo on Monday after completing the country’s most successful FIFA World Cup campaign, despite a quarter-final defeat to England.

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Around 90,000 supporters gathered at Slottsplassen, the square outside the Royal Palace, to honour the squad after their historic run to the last eight, where they were eliminated by England in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time defeat in Miami on Saturday.

The crowd welcomed the players with the team’s now-famous “Viking Row” celebration, creating a memorable scene as fans celebrated a tournament that exceeded expectations for a nation with a population of about 5.6 million.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway joined the occasion, leading parts of the celebration with a drum after also attending the team’s quarter-final defeat in the United States.

“It’s simply incredible to see all the support we receive and to see how much the country is behind us,” Odegaard told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

“It’s really fantastic,” added the Arsenal midfielder, reflecting on the emotional reception from supporters.

The Norway World Cup heroes were praised for taking the national team further than it had ever reached at football’s biggest tournament. Their quarter-final appearance marked a significant milestone for Norway, whose previous World Cup campaigns had ended in earlier stages.

Haaland played a central role in the historic journey, scoring seven goals during the tournament and further strengthening his reputation as one of world football’s most dangerous forwards.

The Manchester City striker returned to Norway earlier on Monday but was unable to attend the public celebration because of travel commitments.

He later shared a light-hearted moment on social media after arriving home, posting an image of himself leaving the plane with a stuffed raccoon holding a bottle.

Norway’s impressive campaign has renewed excitement around the national team, with supporters hopeful that the current generation can deliver further success in future international competitions.

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Although their World Cup journey ended against England, the reception in Oslo showed that the team’s achievements had created a lasting sense of pride across the country.