​Norway’s preparations for their World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash with England have been thrown into turmoil again after the squad switched hotels in Miami just a night after moving into their previous accommodation. Reports say the players voiced complaints to management about the noise and constant disruption from the traffic outside their first hotel, as well as interference from a nearby construction site. An official complaint was lodged with World Cup organisers Fifa, and within just two-and-a-half hours the Norway squad had been relocated from the Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
This hotel upheaval comes on the back of an illness that has circulated through the squad since Sunday, with Norway manager Stale Solbakken confirming that affected players are on the road to recovery. Norway’s World Cup campaign has been remarkable so far. They reached the tournament for the first time in 28 years and advanced from the group stage with a flawless performance apart from a defeat to France in their final group match, a game in which they rested a number of their first-choice players. In the knockout rounds, Norway edged Ivory Coast 2-1 in the round of 32, and then claimed a dramatic victory over Brazil, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to secure a 2-1 win against the five-time world champions.
That win propelled Norway into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, where they are set to face England for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday night. The hotel switch means the squad has relocated again, this time to a venue closer to Hard Rock Stadium, the site of the upcoming quarter-final. Truls Daehli, Norway’s logistics manager, commented on the move: “It is brutal having to move, but we are satisfied with the new place and everyone is happy now. Some people might fear that this will affect the players, but it was the players who wanted this more than anyone else.”
Daehli added that the squad has a robust support team in place and managed to complete the hotel transition in just two and a half hours. Although not ideal, he stressed that swift action was necessary and that maintaining a positive atmosphere was their top priority. “We are going to stay for a week in Miami, and we have already spent six weeks in the United States. We are about to play the biggest match in Norwegian history, and we want to avoid cabin fever,” he said. He also noted that Fifa had approved the move to a different hotel.
Fifa agreed to cover 50 rooms plus security at Norway’s new hotel, with the Norwegian Football Association responsible for extra charges to cover the upgrade demanded by players. The development underscores how much hinges on the atmosphere and comfort of the team as they prepare for a landmark quarter-final against England, with the nation hoping their standout performances in Qatar will translate into a historic run to the latter stages of the tournament.