Norway have arrived at the World Cup with more than boots, tactics and ambition. The national team have also brought a sizeable taste of home to their base in the United States.
More than 400 kilograms of Norwegian fish and cheese have been imported for the squad during the tournament, according to B.T.’s report. The delivery includes around 300 kilograms of Atlantic salmon and white fish, 116 kilograms of brown cheese and 6,000 oranges.
It is a striking logistical detail from a team hoping to make the most of their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Norway began strongly, beating Iraq 4-1 in their opening match, with Erling Haaland scoring twice on his World Cup debut.
A taste of home in the United States
For Norway, the food shipment is partly about comfort and partly about routine. Major tournaments are long, demanding and tightly planned, and national teams often go to great lengths to keep players close to familiar habits.
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The inclusion of fish and brown cheese fits naturally with Norwegian food culture. The 6,000 oranges, however, are the eye-catching part of the order.
If Norway were to remain in the tournament until the final on 19 July, the 26-man squad would need to get through roughly seven oranges per player per day to finish the supply. It is an unusually vivid detail, even in a World Cup where teams routinely travel with chefs, nutritionists and carefully controlled meal plans.
Solbakken’s squad make a strong start
The food story has arrived alongside a promising start on the pitch. Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq gave Ståle Solbakken’s side an ideal opening to the tournament and immediately raised hopes that they can progress from the group.
Haaland’s two goals were the headline, but the result also carried wider significance. Norway had not played at a World Cup for 28 years, and their return has already brought attention both for their football and for the careful planning behind the scenes.
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The shipment of fish, cheese and fruit may sound like a curiosity. But in tournament football, small details matter. Teams try to control everything they can, from sleep and travel to training intensity and diet.
More than a novelty
Norway’s travelling pantry will not decide their World Cup by itself. Their progress will depend on Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and the rest of Solbakken’s squad delivering when the pressure rises.
Still, the food order says something about how seriously the team are treating their time in the United States. Norway have not come merely to enjoy their return to the World Cup. They have planned for a long stay.
Whether the oranges last until the final remains to be seen.
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