Norway reaches first World Cup quarter-final as Denmark debates support

Norway has advanced to its first-ever World Cup quarter-final, sparking debate in Denmark over whether to back its Nordic neighbour in the tournament.

The match against England on Saturday night caps a historic run for Norway, which has never before reached this stage. Fans in Oslo have embraced the moment, gathering in large numbers to cheer on the team with chants of “ro, ro, ro” as they row in unison—a tradition that has swept the country.

Rasmus Glenthøj, a professor of history at the University of Southern Denmark and a leading expert on Nordic history, notes that while Norway is not “just a little Danish,” the two nations share deep familial, linguistic, cultural, and historical ties. “There is no people we are more closely related to than the Norwegians,” he says.

Historically, Denmark and Norway were united under the same crown for centuries, with Denmark often the dominant partner. In the 18th century, Norwegians travelling abroad were sometimes referred to as Danish, reflecting Denmark’s central role in the union. Linguistic bonds remain strong: 19th-century observers noted that the most refined Danish was spoken in Christiania (now Oslo), and modern Norwegian Bokmål is largely intelligible to Danish speakers.

Regional connections run deep, particularly between southern Norway (Sørlandet) and Jylland in Denmark. Historical marriage patterns created close familial links, and Sørlandet’s residents were once nicknamed “reservedanskerne” (reserve Danes) by other Norwegians. Even the Norwegian royal family has Danish roots: when Norway dissolved its union with Sweden in 1905, it chose a Danish prince as its new monarch. The current Norwegian royal house, like Denmark’s, descends from the Glücksburg line, though both also have German ancestry.

Traditionally, Norway has excelled in winter sports while Denmark has performed better in football. Glenthøj points out that Norwegians have long supported Denmark in international football tournaments when their own team failed to qualify—which was often the case. “Now it’s time we returned the favour,” he suggests.

Norway’s quarter-final against England kicks off at 23:00 on Saturday. Live coverage is available on DR’s LIGA on P4 and DR Lyd.