Norway comes to a halt during World Cup matches

Norway ground to a near standstill as the national team faced France in their first World Cup match in 28 years, reports Dagbladet.

Before kickoff, 15,000 gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to cheer the team on, while crowds formed long queues at fan zones like Spikersuppa, where doors briefly had to close due to demand. But once the match began, the capital’s streets emptied noticeably. Oslo Central Station saw only a handful of children and tourists, and even taxi drivers enjoyed a rare lull.

Water consumption data from Oslo’s utility agency showed a sharp spike during halftime of Norway’s previous match against Iraq, with usage jumping from 1,760 to 2,660 liters per second—a 50% increase. Overingeniør Knut Bjelke called it a classic “toilet rush,” a well-documented effect during major sporting events when viewers synchronize breaks.

In Henningsvær, far from the fanfare, streets were nearly deserted as locals stayed indoors to watch. The only exception was packed venues like Klatrekafeen, where every seat was taken.