Norway’s national team arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with more than football boots and training gear. The delegation brought a substantial shipment of Norwegian food to their base in Greensboro, North Carolina.
According to multiple reports, the Norwegian Football Federation shipped more than 1,000 kilograms of food and supplies to support the team’s nutrition program during the tournament. The objective was to maintain familiar eating habits while competing in the United States.
The shipment includes approximately 300 kilograms of Atlantic salmon and white fish, 116 kilograms of brunost, Norway’s distinctive brown cheese, and an astonishing 6,000 oranges for players and staff.
Leading the effort is Aron Espeland, who has worked with Norway’s national team for more than three decades. Espeland and a team of chefs are preparing four meals a day for a traveling party of more than 60 people during the competition.
The objective is straightforward. “Avoid surprises,” team officials said. Tournament football places enormous demands on players, with increased training loads and reduced recovery windows. Norwegian staff believe maintaining consistent nutrition can reduce the risk of digestive issues, disrupted sleep, or other problems that might affect performance.
The choice of food also reflects Norwegian culture. Salmon remains one of the country’s most recognizable exports. Brunost occupies a unique place in Norwegian food culture. Even the oranges have a distinctly Norwegian sporting connection, having long been associated with youth football and outdoor recreation.
For a country returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, the operation reflects the increasingly professional approach national teams take to major tournaments.
