From there, the celebration only grew. Norway's royal family, including King Harald V, Crown Prince Haakon, and Haakon's children Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, received the team at the Royal Palace, where more than 100,000 fans had gathered despite Norwegians typically leaving the cities for summer holidays in July. Crown Prince Haakon, who had visited the team's locker room in Miami after Saturday's loss, told them, "You're allowed to be disappointed, but the rest of us are just incredibly grateful, really proud of you."
Star striker Erling Haaland, who scored seven goals during Norway's first World Cup campaign in 28 years, drew laughs upon disembarking while carrying what appeared to be a taxidermied raccoon holding an empty bottle. The team, led by captain Martin Ødegaard, goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, and fellow scorers Antonio Nusa and Andreas Schelderup, then rode an open-top bus through downtown Oslo, a journey that took nearly an hour given the size of the crowds lining Karl Johans Gate.
Norway's tournament ended when Jude Bellingham scored in extra time to send England through at Norway's expense, setting up England's semifinal against Argentina. Still, reaching the knockout stage marked a milestone for a country that had not qualified for a World Cup since 1998, and the reception reflected what many Norwegians described as a rare surge of national pride and unity, with immigrants among the crowd saying the tournament made them feel Norwegian for the first time
