Jorgen Strand Larsen celebrates scoring Norway’s third against Sweden in Monday’s friendly.
| Photo Credit: AFP
The FIFA World Cup is almost upon us. As lovers of the beautiful game gear up for the biggest tournament, people in the Norwegian capital are looking forward to its golden generation to dribble up some magic on the field.
Norway, having qualified for the quadrennial extravaganza after 28 years, will hope to put up a memorable show. Fans here are thrilled to see the nation back among the elite and are eager to see how the team fares.
Norway beat Sweden 3-1 in a warm-up fixture at Ullevaal Stadion here on Monday with the talismanic Erling Haaland watching from the stands.
On him rests the nation’s hopes of making an impact in the sport’s showpiece event to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. The 25-year-old striker. who turns out for Manchester City in the Premier League, will be expected to deliver the goals as he does for his club while there are others who would be eager to step up.
Even as people are likely to turn on their television sets to catch action from the cool confines of their homes, sports bars are gearing up to welcome the supporters. At a sports bar inside a mall here, the arrangements are in place.
Hotels here haven’t firmed up plans with regard to organising telecast of the matches with a receptionist at Hotel Thon Opera saying a call could be taken closer to the event.
The young and the old alike think Haaland’s brilliance can carry Norway deep into the tournament.
According to Kjell Madland, the CEO-founder of Norway Chess, it is good that the country had a wonderful qualifying campaign and sealed a spot in the finals. “I think they will be able to advance from the group stage, anything after that is pure bonus,” he said.
Gustav Nerland, receptionist at a hotel here and an avid football fan, is hugely optimistic about the team’s prospects and thinks Norway can make it to the semifinals if it plays to potential. He tipped Haaland to be among the tournament’s leading scorers.
Naveen Parmar, a researcher, and his wife Sheenam, who hail from India and have been living here for some years now, said Norway had a side good enough to reach the knockouts.
Can the golden generation recreate the magic of 1998 when Norway stunned Brazil in the group stage?
Published – June 02, 2026 08:32 pm IST
