Fans rouse King with dawn World Cup festivities in Norway

  • Norway beat Senegal to qualify for last 32
  • 'We're going to wake up the king'

Wild overnight celebrations erupted across Norway as the men’s national team secured qualification to the World Cup knockout stages and a tide of elated supporters headed to the palace of 89-year-old King Harald V to see if he would join their party.

Despite the match ending at around 4am on Tuesday, Norwegian supporters took to the streets to party after seeing their team qualify for the last 32 after a thriller 3-2 win against Senegal in the second round match of Group I.

Football fever

Football fever engulfed Oslo, with the capital full of people celebrating the win, even though Tuesday is a normal workday.

A large crowd marched up Oslo’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.

The Norwegian Royal House declined to comment on whether the King and Queen Sonja had been awoken by the festivities, or if the monarch had stayed up to watch the match.

It remarked only: “The Royal House rejoices with the rest of the country over the men’s national team’s victory last night.”

Read more: Lionel Messi becomes record FIFA World Cup goalscorer 

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  • Norway's men's national football team qualified for the World Cup knockout stages after a thrilling 3-2 win against Senegal.
  • Celebrations erupted across Norway overnight, with fans partying until around 4am despite it being a weekday.
  • Supporters marched through Oslo to King Harald V's palace, chanting and performing the "Viking rowing" celebration.
  • The Norwegian Royal House expressed joy over the victory but did not reveal if the King or Queen stayed up or were awakened by the celebrations.
  • Football fever gripped the capital with large crowds celebrating the team's advancement in the tournament.
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Wild overnight celebrations erupted across Norway as the men's national team secured qualification to the World Cup knockout stages and a tide of elated supporters headed to the palace of 89-year-old King Harald V to see if he would join their party.

Despite the match ending at around 4am on Tuesday, Norwegian supporters took to the streets to party after seeing their team qualify for the last 32 after a thriller 3-2 win against Senegal in the second round match of Group I.

Football fever engulfed Oslo, with the capital full of people celebrating the win, even though Tuesday is a normal workday.

A large crowd marched up Oslo'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.

The Norwegian Royal House declined to comment on whether the King and Queen Sonja had been awoken by the festivities, or if the monarch had stayed up to watch the match.

It remarked only: "The Royal House rejoices with the rest of the country over the men's national team's victory last night."

Read more: Lionel Messi becomes record FIFA World Cup goalscorer 

Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content