Haaland brace sends Norway into last 32 as fans march on royal palace to wake the king

Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half as Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in their World Cup Group I match to advance to the last 32, triggering jubilant overnight scenes in Oslo that culminated in a crowd marching on the royal palace to serenade 89-year-old King Harald V.

Marcus Holmgren Pedersen gave Norway the lead shortly before half-time, and Haaland doubled the advantage with a brace early in the second half to put the match beyond Senegal’s reach. Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr scored twice for Senegal, but his efforts could not prevent Norway from securing the three points they needed to progress.

Despite the match finishing at around 4 am local time on a Tuesday — a regular working day — thousands of Norwegians poured onto the streets of Oslo. A large crowd marched up the capital’s main thoroughfare towards the royal residence, chanting: “We’re going to wake up the king.” Upon reaching the palace square, hundreds of fans sat on the ground to perform the “Viking rowing” celebration that has become a signature of this Norwegian squad.

The Norwegian Royal House declined to confirm whether King Harald V and Queen Sonja had been woken by the festivities or had stayed up to watch the game, stating only: “The Royal House rejoices with the rest of the country over the men’s national team’s victory last night.”

The scenes in Oslo mirrored the atmosphere inside the stadium in the United States, where Norway’s red jerseys dominated the stands. Visa restrictions had prevented most Senegalese supporters from entering the country, leaving the Norwegian fans to fill the arena and lead a “Viking row” on the pitch alongside the players at the final whistle.

Norway will face France in their final group match on Friday, with top spot in the group still to be decided.