17/07/2026
🇳🇴 Norway’s National Team Receives Hero’s Welcome After Historic World Cup Run — With a Viral “Whiskey Raccoon” Souvenir
Norway’s national team returned home on July 14 to a spectacular hero’s welcome after reaching the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals — the country’s best-ever World Cup finish.
As the team’s flight entered Norwegian airspace, it was escorted by Norwegian Air Force F-35 fighter jets before landing at Oslo Airport, where firefighters welcomed the squad with a ceremonial water cannon salute, creating a rainbow arch over the aircraft.
Leading the celebrations was Erling Haaland, who stepped off the plane wearing sunglasses and carrying a Dolce & Gabbana bag. However, it was the unusual souvenir in his arms that immediately caught fans’ attention — a stuffed raccoon clutching an empty wh***ey bottle.
The raccoon was inspired by a real viral incident in late 2025, when a wild raccoon wandered into a liquor store in Texas, United States, drank alcohol, and was later found passed out inside the shop’s restroom. Images of the intoxicated animal quickly spread across social media, turning it into one of the internet’s most memorable wildlife stories. Haaland’s humorous version, nicknamed the “Whiskey Raccoon,” became one of the standout images of Norway’s homecoming celebrations.
The Norwegian royal family hosted an official reception at the Royal Palace in Oslo, where King Harald V and Queen Sonja personally greeted Haaland and his teammates. The players later joined an enormous public celebration in Palace Square, where nearly 100,000 supporters gathered.
One of the event’s highlights featured a spectacular Viking-inspired drumming and rowing celebration, with Crown Prince Haakon joining the festivities as players and fans rowed together in a symbolic display of Norwegian heritage. The celebrations concluded with the squad boarding an open-top bus for a victory parade through the capital, where thousands of fans lined the streets to cheer their heroes.
Norway finished the tournament with four wins and two defeats, ending fifth overall among all participating teams and achieving the nation’s finest World Cup performance. Their remarkable campaign included a famous victory over Brazil before they were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals.
Haaland was one of the tournament’s biggest stars, scoring seven goals in five matches to finish third in the Golden Boot race. At just 25 years old, he has further cemented his status as one of world football’s brightest talents, with his performances and charismatic personality earning millions of new fans around the globe.
For Norway, the 2026 World Cup marked a historic breakthrough. For Haaland, it may only be the beginning of an even greater football legacy.
Source: Sina
