Between rowing and a folk festival: World Cup euphoria in Norway before the historic quarter-finals

Several special flights from Oslo to Miami, the venue for the quarter-finals, were immediately fully booked. To ensure that the fans get home safely after the game, local transport in Oslo is using several dozen additional buses. “Very few of us can row home,” said a spokesman for the local transport operator – referring to the Norwegians’ celebration ritual.

For weeks, people all over the country have been “rowing” on dry land for their national team – be it in parliament, in kindergartens or at festivals. Even Crown Prince Haakon joined the celebrating crowd in front of Oslo Castle after the Norwegians’ surprising victory against Brazil in the World Cup round of 16 and rowed along. The heir to the throne travels to Miami for the quarterfinals.

Rush for fan items: queue for hours for flags and scarves

While Norway jerseys were sold out before the World Cup and are now a rare find, the rush for everything else in the country’s look is in full swing. Where there are still scarves and flags, Norwegians sometimes queue for hours for them, according to broadcaster NRK. If you can’t get them anymore, you can browse through souvenir shops for other Norway fan items or crochet your own fishing hat in the national colors.

Many have never experienced their country as euphorically as they did right now. The Norwegian Thor Stenhaug, who actually lives in London, is traveling home specifically for the quarter-final festival, as he told Norwegian radio: “Otherwise it would have felt like everyone was at a birthday party without you.”