Norway quit Miami hotel amid illness fears and construction chaos before England World Cup quarter-final

Norway have abandoned their five-star hotel in Fort Lauderdale and moved to a new Miami base less than a week before their 2026 World Cup quarter-final against England at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, after a combination of construction noise, logistical failings and illness concerns unsettled the squad.

The Norwegian Football Federation confirmed the team left The Dalmar hotel after players complained about a large construction project adjacent to the building, which backs onto a busy road. Logistics manager Truls Daehli said the entire move was completed in two and a half hours, with volunteers helping to shift the squad’s equipment. “It is brutal having to move but we are satisfied with the new place and everyone is happy now,” Daehli said. “Some people might fear that this will affect the players, but it was the players who wanted this more than anyone else.”

Daehli added that FIFA approved the switch and assisted in facilitating it. “We have been for six weeks in the United States and we are going to play in the biggest match in Norwegian history,” he said. “We have avoided cabin fever so far and don’t want any risk of it now.”

Captain Martin Odegaard played down the disruption, framing the decision as a straightforward performance call. “There were some things that could have been better and we fixed them,” he said. “Just to optimise and prepare ourselves as best as possible for an important match.”

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken also defended the move while pushing back firmly on reports of a sickness crisis spreading through the camp. He confirmed that the only person affected by illness was manual therapist Thomas Odegaard, not any of the playing squad. “That story is greatly exaggerated,” Solbakken said. “We have enough physiotherapists to handle it.” He did acknowledge that winger Marcus Holmgren Pedersen had felt unwell before Norway’s previous match but said the player was fit to train.

Team doctor Ola Sand went further, insisting the squad was in good health. “All players are healthy now,” Sand told Norwegian outlet Nettavisen. “Very little fuss considering that we have been close together for almost six weeks.”

Norway arrive at the quarter-final stage after one of the tournament’s most dramatic upsets, beating Brazil 2-1 in the round of eight with Erling Haaland scoring twice. The striker was characteristically understated about his performance. “If I get a chance or two, it usually ends up as a goal,” Haaland said. “I tell myself the chance will come, and then it does.”

England await on Saturday, with Solbakken’s side aiming to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time in Norwegian football history.