I can safely say I have never seen the country quite like this before.
For the international community living here, the tournament has triggered a fascinating mix of rapid integration, financial surprises, and a sudden, dramatic shift in local social norms.
If you are a foreign resident navigating the current football madness in Norway, here are some of the strangest culture shocks I’ve seen and heard from fellow foreign friends.
The 'chatty' Norwegian phenomenon
The biggest surprise has been how the usual Nordic social distance has vanished.
It is no secret that Norwegians are generally quite reserved people, so it has been an absolute surprise to find them striking up conversations on almost every corner. I’ve noticed that if you wear a football shirt (even if it’s not Norway’s) locals will come up and talk to you.
The same people who usually avoid eye contact on the T-bane are now asking about other teams or excitedly talking about Norway’s last win, and seeing usually quiet Norwegians turn into loud, chatty, and super expressive football fans is both a wonderful and slightly disorienting sight (although it must be said that a significant amount of alcohol also plays a major role in making that famous social fear disappear).
Honestly, I’ve had more random chats with Norwegians this past month than in my entire six years living in Norway.
And we have not talked about the noise. Everyone knows that Norwegian cities are usually incredibly calm, with people speaking in hushed, polite tones in public.
But right now, the streets are full of music, loud laughter, and cheers. The celebrations have gotten so wild that fans jumping and cheering in Bergen reportedly caused local seismic activity!
Another highlight has been the street celebrations. I’ve been amazed to see Norwegians forget about social distance and join huge crowds in the streets shoulder to shoulder, especially in Oslo, where people celebrated right in front of the Royal Palace.
The party has even reached local nightclubs, with people dancing to all sorts of international music. In all the excitement, I’ve seen locals and foreigners dancing over tables together and cheering side by side, no matter where they’re from. Moments like these make you believe that love for the game can bring people from different countries together.
While this high-energy atmosphere makes me feel much closer to home, it also leaves me wondering: will this festive environment allow me to score a long-time Norwegian friend just from the bond of watching a football match together? Time will tell, but for now, I am definitely enjoying the chat.
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Adopting Norway as a second home country
While international residents are still passionately cheering for their home nations, it is clear to everyone that we also truly want to see Norway win.
Whether you have a Norwegian passport or are still working through the residency process, there’s a shared sense of pride. We live and work here, and we want to see Norway succeed. We are experiencing this historic tournament as our own history, too.
A foreign friend told me that watching Norway win can even feel deeply cathartic. It makes you reflect on and appreciate everything you’ve experienced and achieved since moving here.
This shared excitement has led thousands of internationals to buy the official team kit and wear it proudly (despite its notoriously high price). For those who didn’t get the jersey, wearing anything red has become the go-to way to support the team on match days.
Of course, the only real heartbreak is when your two worlds collide. A Brazilian friend in Oslo told me about their mixed feelings before this Sunday’s big match: "My two home countries are facing each other this weekend. It really weighs on my heart".
We love to be part of the 'Viking row'
I am not going to hide how incredibly fun it is to join a traditional "Viking Row". I have always been passionate about football, but participating in this specific chant, which strikes a balance between history, immense pride, and fierce, chaotic energy, gives the match day experience a truly special touch.
The first time you see a room full of people rowing, you join in feeling shy and awkward. By the sixth time, you’re rowing with total enthusiasm next to strangers.
It shows you don’t need to speak perfect Norwegian to feel like part of the group. Ro, ro, ro!
READ MORE: What's the story behind Norway's 'Viking row' football chant
Friends and family more interested in Norway (and Haaland)
The World Cup has given Norway the kind of worldwide attention that money can’t buy.
Just in the past few weeks, Innovation Norway said that visits to the Visit Norway websites about Vikings and the Viking Age jumped by 80 percent compared to usual.
This global obsession has affected our personal lives too. Many internationals have shared stories of childhood friends, old acquaintances, and relatives suddenly reaching out, curious about Norway.
On top of that, the tournament has turned everyday foreign residents into the go-to "local sports correspondents" for their families back home.
For years, explaining life here to people back home meant talking about freezing winters or expensive groceries. Now, it’s all about football… and Haaland.
I have also been genuinely surprised by how many people back home have suddenly put Erling Haaland on their radar as an attractive man. Maybe it’s the appeal of "Viking power"?
Even though the official squad photo before the tournament (where the team went for a fierce, Viking-inspired look) got a lot of criticism in Norway, the rest of the world seems to love it.
READ MORE: 'Toxic and boyish': Norway's World Cup Viking photos spark row
How are those finances going?
Sadly, football fever is draining our bank accounts. Everyone in Norway knows that eating out or going to a pub is usually a rare treat.
However, with so many high-stakes matches happening back-to-back, lots of us are heading out to bars and venues more frequently than usual.
Even though entry is free in most cases, buying drinks and food on consecutive nights is quietly destroying our personal finances. Luckily, we just got our feriepenger, which is helping us survive this World Cup spending spree.
However, there’s some bad news before the big match against Brazil this Sunday. Almost all the main venues in Oslo and other big cities showing the game now have a strict cover charge just to get in.
Tickets can start at 150 kroner for one person, and premium table reservations can go as high as 2,000 kroner.
Enjoy it while it lasts
In short, make sure to keep enjoying the World Cup and this surreal time of social connection we’re experiencing in Norway this summer.
Soak up every high-five from a stranger and every loud chant in the pub, because as every expat here knows, the long, quiet winter is always just around the corner.
Heia Norge!
READ ALSO: The Norwegian words you need to know for the 2026 World Cup
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