Arriving in the U.S. with Norwegian Cuisine
After a 28-year absence, Norway’s national football team has qualified for the World Cup and traveled to the United States with over 1,000 kilograms of traditional Norwegian food. The squad brought along three chefs, including Aron Espeland, to make sure players stick to their usual diet while competing abroad.
- 300 kg of Norwegian salmon,
- 116 kg of brunost cheese,
- 6,000 oranges.
“Flying to the U.S. with half a ton of fish and specialty ingredients was a serious challenge, but the team is proud to feed the athletes the best homegrown products at the most important moment of their careers,” said Aron Espeland.
Norway’s training base is in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Team Performance on the Field
Norway dominated the qualifying rounds, winning all eight matches with a combined score of 37 goals. Star player Erling Haaland scored 16 of those goals. The team’s first World Cup match is on June 16 against Iraq, followed by Senegal on June 23, and France on June 26.
This is not the first time Norway has brought large quantities of food to a major event. During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the Norwegian delegation shipped 15,000 eggs. This time, the team aims to impress not only with athletic performance but also with their national cuisine.
Bringing familiar food to the World Cup reflects Norway’s broader approach to athlete preparation, which focuses on nutrition and psychological comfort alongside physical training. The choice to rely on traditional ingredients highlights the team’s commitment to creating the best possible conditions for players, which may boost their performance on the field.