Late last year, Norway qualified for the 2026 Football World Cup to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The team and the nation celebrated this milestone as if Norway had won the World Cup. There was some criticism from a few but for most people this was something to be celebrated. It’s been 28 years since Norway last qualified, and this was indeed an amazing achievement!
In June this year, football fever took over the country. Many of the games were quite late in the night so my husband and I would wake up and watch the highlights the next morning. It became a daily routine. The best part was that Norway did great, truly the ‘dark horse’ in this competition. Watching the team and the nation celebrate every win as the games progressed towards the quarter finals was wonderful. Even people like myself who do not normally follow football, were all smitten by the team and their progress.
Across Norway and wherever the Norwegian football fans travelled in the USA, the cheering and rowing won the hearts of the crowds. Over one hundred thousand joining in Oslo after the match with Brazil. The scenes of people, old and young, seated on the street, all the way from the castle to the parliament house, rowing to celebrate the Norwegian victories was just amazing. Everyone was included, everyone was part of this celebration!
What truly inspired me is the way the team handled this, not taking themselves too seriously and just enjoying every game and opportunity, celebrating every win! When they lost to England, fans still cheered them for what they had accomplished so far.
Back in Norway, the team travelled from the airport to the palace to meet the King and members of the royal family and the Norwegian fans, estimated to around 100 000 people, who lined the roads to welcome them home. One could not but sense the deep sense of gratitude expressed by the king, the Norwegian people and the team!
We can all learn from this experience, enjoy every new opportunity, without overthinking what the future may bring.
My beautiful life! 