Haaland Party: Rådhusplassen Celebration Planned by Man City Star

Norway is going to the USA, the WC ticket is secured. The entire men’s national team was greeted by a jubilant crowd after they qualified for their first championship in 28 years.

– I know this is the start of something big, said Erling Braut Haaland to those present from the balcony at the Town Hall.

Now the biggest star of the national team reveals that he was behind the proposal that allowed the people of Norway to participate in the celebration.

– It touched me

In an interview with the presenters Erik Solbakken and Mia Hundvin before the Sports Gala, Haaland opens up about the thoughts behind the grand celebration.

– I know that you were one of the initiators of bringing Norway together in Town Hall Square. It was your suggestion to get everyone home. What was it like to stand on the balcony there and see the sea of people?, asks Solbakken.

– I was thinking about it: “If we qualify for the first time in 28 years for a championship, qualify for the World Cup in the USA, then I know we have to do something a little more than just have a party and then go home to the club weekday”, says Haaland.

So instead of the Jærbow disappearing to Manchester, Martin Ødegaard to London and Antonio Nusa to Leipzig, everyone turned up before thousands upon thousands of people who wanted to celebrate the WC ticket with them.

– It was absolutely fantastic to see the support we received. It was simply huge, it touched me. And again, it’s something that will be remembered for a long, long time.

And Haaland was not alone in being moved by the atmosphere at Rådhusplassen:

– Don’t lose your head completely

Barely a month after the tears from Rådhusplassen had dried, the table was set for World Cup trekking in the USA.

Norway ended up in a tough group.

– France, Senegal and the last team… it will be tough, but there are of course possibilities, says Haaland.

But he points out how important it is not to give up completely, even though the Norwegian national team delivered on all parameters in the WC qualification.

– If I’m being completely honest now, we mustn’t lose our heads completely now. We have just qualified, which we have done for the first time in 28 years, so let’s take it a bit from there, he says.

He still gets some expectations.

– But again, when I look at our team and see all the good players we have, I suddenly had some expectations. But it’s important that I don’t want too much. So I’m kind of torn between whether I should wait too much or whether I should take everything as a bonus.

• Haaland has been nominated for several awards at the Sports Gala, which you can see on NRK1 and NRK TV, Saturday at 19.45: