Norway’s FIFA World Cup Heroes Receive Royal Norwegian Air Force Escort on Emotional Homecoming
Royal Norwegian Air Force honors Norway's historic FIFA World Cup run with an F-35 fighter jet escort, delivering the national team home.
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Norway Football team (Image: Instagram/@norwayfootballteam)
Norway’s national football team received a military tribute upon returning home from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Royal Norwegian Air Force escorting the squad’s flight to Oslo using three F-35 fighter jets.
Videos shared on social media showed the fighter jets flying in formation alongside the aircraft carrying the Norwegian team as it approached the country’s capital. The tribute came after Norway’s historic World Cup campaign ended with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England in the quarterfinals in Miami on Saturday, marking the country’s best-ever finish at the tournament.
The welcome continued after the team landed in Oslo. Their aircraft was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute before the players travelled into the city for a public celebration. Tens of thousands of supporters packed the streets, with reports estimating the turnout at around 90,000 to more than 100,000 people around the Royal Palace and along Karl Johans gate.
King Harald V welcomed the squad to the Royal Palace alongside Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus. Crown Prince Haakon, who had attended Norway’s quarterfinal against England in Miami, joined the celebrations and led the team’s now-famous “Viking Row” chant with a drum. Captain Martin Ødegaard thanked supporters during the homecoming.
It’s simply incredible to see all the support we receive and to see how much the country is behind us. It’s really fantastic.
Martin Ødegaard said via Reuters
The celebrations continued with an open top bus parade through central Oslo before concluding at City Hall Square, bringing Norway’s memorable 2026 FIFA World Cup journey to a close.
Erling Haaland arrives home with unusual souvenir after FIFA World Cup campaign
While Norway’s homecoming celebrations drew nationwide attention, Erling Haaland also became a talking point after arriving in Oslo carrying an unusual souvenir from the United States.
Photos from the airport showed the Manchester City striker walking off the team plane holding a taxidermy raccoon clutching a bottle of whiskey. According to The Sun, Haaland bought the display piece, known as a Whiskey Raccoon H-MT-F, from Wild Bills in Dallas for around $750. The report also said he purchased several cowboy hats, boots, and a T-shirt reading, “Y’all can kiss my Dallas.
The images quickly circulated across social media, adding another viral moment to Haaland’s World Cup campaign after his goals and Norway’s “Viking Row” celebrations. The striker scored seven goals during the tournament before Norway’s quarterfinal exit.
Haaland did not take part in the final stage of the team’s public celebrations in Oslo because he had another flight to catch after the squad’s delayed return from the United States.
Head coach Stale Solbakken later confirmed the reason for his absence, saying the delay forced both Haaland and Sander Berge to leave before the final ceremony at the Royal Palace.
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