Oslo, Norway — The Norwegian men’s national football team is set to hold a massive public celebration in Oslo’s City Hall Square (Rådhusplassen) on Monday evening to mark their qualification for the next FIFA World Cup—a feat last achieved 28 years ago.
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), confirming earlier reports, announced that together with the City of Oslo, they are hosting a “folk festival” starting at 5:45 PM CET. The highlight of the event will be the team’s appearance on the City Hall balcony at 6:30 PM CET to greet the public.
Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe expressed her excitement, stating: “It has been 28 years since the Norwegian men’s national football team last participated in a World Cup. Now that the World Cup ticket is secured, I hope as many people as possible will come to City Hall Square tonight to celebrate.”
A Night of National Pride
The celebrations follow Norway’s stunning 4-1 victory over Italy, securing their qualification with a perfect record of eight wins out of eight in the qualifying round. The team needed only to avoid a nine-goal defeat, but their dominant performance has fueled immense national pride.
Star striker Erling Haaland, speaking to Norwegian media after the Italy match, anticipated the public response: “Now I expect to see a heap of people at City Hall Square tomorrow.”
NFF Secretary-General Karl-Petter Løken shared the sentiment, noting: “The entire men’s national team and the NFF want to thank the Norwegian people for their support and give something back.”
Celebrating in Style
While the team and support staff will first be treated to a private cake reception inside the City Hall—an event estimated to cost the municipality around 40,000 Norwegian kroner—the focus quickly shifts to the public celebration.
In a special gesture, the Oslo City Hall will be illuminated with the colors of the Norwegian flag. The City Council’s executive committee unanimously approved the request for the special lighting, concluding that a World Cup qualification after 28 years is an exception that warrants overriding the city’s new, strict rules on illuminating public buildings.
Following the festivities at City Hall Square, the team is scheduled to continue the celebration at the popular Oslo venue, Carls, inviting the public to join them from 7:00 PM CET.
The news comes despite an initial reluctance from National Team Manager Ståle Solbakken to discuss the celebration plans before the crucial match. When asked at a pre-game press conference, Solbakken interrupted the journalist, declaring, “No, I don’t dare to talk about that. That’s finished now,” prioritizing focus on the task at hand. The victory proves his caution was worth it, setting the stage for a memorable homecoming for the team and their fans.
