Norway turns World Cup heartbreak into celebration as huge crowds pack capital
Over 100,000 fans gathered in Oslo to celebrate the Norwegian national soccer team following their quarter-final exit from the World Cup. Despite the loss, the public homecoming parade served as a massive national event honoring the team's performance.
Why it matters
It illustrates the cultural impact of international sports and national pride in Norway.
More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Monday to give their soccer team a heroes’ welcome, turning the heartbreak of their World Cup exit into a massive national celebration. A 2-1 extra-time defeat by England on Saturday brought Norway’s historic run to an end in the quarter-finals, shattering the Nordics’ dreams of a place in the last four. However, it did not stop the country celebrating their heroes. Massive crowds under the Norwegian summer sun filled the grounds of the Royal Palace early on Monday afternoon, with an unofficial turnout estimated at more than 100,000 people. The Norway squad touched down to a traditional water cannon salute before commencing their homecoming parade in the capital.
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