300 kilograms of salmon in 20 days…a remarkable number in the Norwegian camp

The Norwegian national team consumed about 300 kilograms of salmon during the first 20 days of its participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, which prompted its delegation to request a new shipment from Norway, as part of a strict nutritional program aimed at maintaining the players’ usual diet throughout the tournament.

According to officials in the mission, the team is accompanied by three specialized chefs who work continuously since the early hours of the morning to prepare four meals a day for the mission members, which includes about 60 people, including players, technical, administrative and medical staff.

The volume of consumption reflects the Norwegian team’s heavy dependence on the food it brought with it from its country, as the shipment was not limited to salmon only, but also included other types of fish such as arctic fish, trout, and halibut, in addition to about 180 kilograms of brown cheese, one of the most famous traditional food products in Norway.

As the quantities taken by the mission ran out in less than three weeks, the Norwegian Football Association requested to send a new shipment, taking advantage of Norway’s position as one of the largest seafood exporting countries in the world, as this sector represents one of the most important tributaries of the Norwegian economy, and accounts for about 10% of the external income output.

The team’s interest is not limited to the quality of food that the Norwegian team players eat, but also extends to the way it is prepared, as Norwegian chefs work in coordination with the chefs of the hotel in which the delegation is staying to ensure that the fish is cooked according to specific temperatures not exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, in order to preserve its nutritional value, especially protein, which is an essential element in the players’ diet.

The Norwegian national team’s nutrition specialist confirms that maintaining the quality of food is part of the physical preparation program, in light of the pressure of matches and the proximity of their dates during the tournament, which explains the national team’s keenness to transport its nutritional ingredients from Norway instead of relying on products available locally in America.

The matter is not limited to health aspects, but also carries a psychological dimension, as the delegation is keen to provide traditional meals that give the players, many of whom played professionally outside their country from an early age, a feeling of familiarity and connection to the homeland during the tournament period.

The delegation also took a number of traditional Norwegian products, including local chocolate and raspberry jam, in addition to Norwegian coffee beans that are ground daily to prepare fresh coffee for the players, in an attempt to provide an atmosphere similar to what Norwegian society is keen on.

The presence of the Norwegian identity was not limited to the mission’s diet, but also extended to the stands, where the national team’s fans caught attention with their distinctive way of encouragement, by performing what is known as the “rowing dance,” inspired by the heritage of their Viking ancestors, as the fans sit side by side while imitating with their movements the process of rowing on ancient ships, in a group scene that became one of the most prominent manifestations of encouragement accompanying the Norwegian team during its matches in the 2026 World Cup, and received wide interaction from the fans present in the stadiums. American.