Norway's 'Quarterfinal Run' Comes to an End; Manager Solbakken Says "I Am Proud"

Ståle Solbakken, manager of the Norway national football team, showed deep pride with teary eyes as his team exited the World Cup after a remarkable quarterfinal run in their first appearance in 28 years.

Norway suffered a 1-2 comeback defeat against England after a grueling 120-minute match in the quarterfinals of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, held in Miami on July 12 (KST).

Norway took the lead with an opening goal by Andreas Schjelderup, but conceded two goals to England's Jude Bellingham, ultimately ending their tournament run.

Although they failed to reach the semifinals, Norway was one of the teams that left the strongest impression in this tournament.

Returning to the World Cup stage for the first time in 28 years since the 1998 France tournament, where Solbakken played as a member of the squad, Norway advanced to the round of 32 by finishing second in Group I with two wins and one loss, defeating Iraq and Senegal.

They then defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in the round of 32 and stunned title favorites Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16, writing a new chapter in their history by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time.

Star striker Erling Haaland led the charge, scoring 7 goals in his first-ever World Cup appearance.

Manager Solbakken did not hide his pride after the tournament concluded.

In his post-match interview, he said, "We played at the highest level, and it was just a matter of small margins that luck didn't go our way. That is football, and that is life. We had some difficulties in the first 20 minutes, but I sincerely applaud our players for fighting until the end."

The support from fans for the national team, which caused a sensation in their long-awaited return to the World Cup, was passionate.

Traveling Norwegian fans heated up the atmosphere not only in the stadium but throughout the host city with their unique 'rowing' celebration, instantly capturing the attention of football fans worldwide.

"I hope the summer of 2026 remains a fond memory for all Norwegians," Solbakken said. "Thanks to the fantastic support from back home, we were able to live up to the excitement of the tournament, and that is what I am most proud of."

He added, "We promised that if we reached the World Cup finals, we would show our true worth, and the players did that brilliantly. There wasn't a single boring second during the six and a half weeks the squad spent together."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.