Norway switch Miami-area hotel before England World Cup quarterfinal
Norway moved from a Fort Lauderdale hotel after player complaints, adding late disruption before Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal against England.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Norway changed its team hotel in the Miami area days before facing England in the World Cup quarterfinals after players raised concerns about the accommodation, Al Jazeera reported. The move adds a late logistical issue before Saturday’s match at Miami Stadium, one of the biggest fixtures in Norway’s football history.
Al Jazeera reported that Norway earned its place in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Brazil last week. England advanced by beating Mexico 3-2, setting up a meeting between Norway’s side led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard and Harry Kane’s England team.
Yahoo Sports reported that Norway stayed only one night at The Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale before deciding to leave. According to Yahoo Sports, players complained about heavy noise from construction work outside the property.
The Mirror quoted Odegaard as saying the team had identified problems and moved to correct them. The Norway captain said the change was about giving the squad the best possible conditions before an important match.
Norway logistics manager Truls Daehli told The Mirror that moving hotels was a harsh step but that the team was pleased with the replacement accommodation. He said the players had pushed strongly for the switch, and that the staff completed the move in two-and-a-half hours.
Daehli said the process was not ideal, according to The Mirror, but Norway wanted to act quickly. He added that keeping the right team environment mattered because the squad had been in the United States for six weeks and was preparing for what he called the biggest match in Norwegian history.
According to The Mirror, Daehli said FIFA accepted Norway’s request to change hotels. BeIN Sports reported that hygiene concerns also played a role in the decision to leave the original accommodation.
BeIN Sports reported that FIFA responded quickly by helping arrange the relocation. The outlet also reported that FIFA is expected to pay most of the costs linked to the move.
Haaland told BeIN Sports that the squad needed to be at full strength for what he described as the most important game Norway has played. He said the move had been chaotic but that FIFA understood the request and the team was now satisfied with the new setup.
BeIN Sports also reported that rumours had circulated about illness in the Norway camp. Head coach Stale Solbakken dismissed those reports, according to the outlet.
Norway trained at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on July 9, according to a Reuters photo caption cited by Al Jazeera. The quarterfinal against England is scheduled for Saturday at Miami Stadium.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.