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The Norway national team filed a formal complaint with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and left the hotel where they were staying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just one night after their arrival, as they deemed the accommodation conditions unsuitable for their preparation for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup against England.
According to The Independent, the Norwegian delegation left the Dalmar Hotel after identifying a number of issues, including constant noise from a nearby avenue, construction work in the vicinity, rooms with mold, smoke odor, and cleaning deficiencies.
The team completed the move to a new hotel in just two and a half hours.
FIFA collaborated with the relocation by covering the cost of 50 rooms and the security arrangements at the new accommodation, while the Norwegian Football Federation covered the additional expenses for higher-category facilities.
The new hotel is located closer to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the site of the match against England, scheduled for Saturday, July 11.
The logistics manager for the Norwegian team, Truls Daehli, acknowledged that the move presented a setback, but he stated that it was the best decision to maintain the team's focus.
"It's hard to have to move, but we are pleased with the new place and everyone is happy now," she stated.
Daehli also explained that it was the footballers themselves who drove the change. "Some people may think this affects the players, but it was they who wanted to move the most," he stated.
The leader added that the decision was made swiftly to minimize any distractions before the most important match in the recent history of the team.
"Changing hotels is never ideal, but we wanted to act as quickly as possible. Having a good environment is the most important thing," he emphasized.
A historic moment for Norway
However, the hotel change has not been the only setback for the Norwegian national team in the lead-up to the match against England. According to The Independent, since last Sunday, several members of the squad have been affected by an illness that spread within the team’s camp.
Although the British media indicates that the affected players are recovering well and are expected to be available for the match on Saturday, the incident represented yet another disruption in the Nordic team's preparation for the most important game in its history at a World Cup.
Norway will compete in the quarterfinals of a World Cup for the first time, after defeating Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16 thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland, who scored in the 79th and 90th minutes.
The qualification also ended a 28-year absence for the Norwegians in a World Cup, with their last participation having been in France 1998.
Haaland arrives at the match as one of the top scorers in the tournament, with seven goals, tied with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot. Opposing him will be the English captain, Harry Kane, another contender for the award.
The captain of Norway, Martin Ødegaard, avoided complacency when assessing the challenge posed by England.
"It will be a great test for us," he stated at a press conference, where he described several of the English internationals—whom he competes with in the Premier League—as "outstanding" and "world-class" players.
Norway and England will face each other this Saturday, July 11, at 5:00 p.m. (local time), at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, for a spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.
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