The Norwegian national team landed in Miami on Monday afternoon and received a police escort to "The Dalmar" in Fort Lauderdale, just outside Miami. FIFA staff, the hotel manager, around twenty police officers, and a number of curious hotel guests were waiting there for Erling Braut Haaland and the team.
However, the excitement over hosting Norway did not last long as the national team, after just one day, decided to change hotels. Norwegian media outlet TV2.no visited the hotel earlier in the week and reported that the hotel was located right next to a very busy road. There was a large construction site just outside the hotel, and if you wanted to go to the beach, it was a walk of nearly four kilometers.
“We’ve changed hotels. There were things about where we were staying initially that we would have liked to be different. We eventually decided to take action, because we’re now into week six and are staying here for a full week. And the match we’re about to play is the biggest one we’ve ever played. We’ve managed to avoid cabin fever so far, and we didn’t want to risk running into issues like that during this period. That’s why we made a change,” says Head of delegation Truls Daehli to NRK.
According to information obtained by NRK, several of the rooms assigned to the players were either reeking of smoke, moldy, or poorly cleaned. “Yes, that is true , but I think that was sorted out immediately. It was more about the whole setting, how we can see other people while also needing to be alone,” says Daehli.
Daehli praises FIFA for their willingness to cooperate in this matter. "It is important to point out that we got FIFA on board, which was essential. Consequently, FIFA is still paying for 50 rooms, all security, and all transport, just as they do at other FIFA hotels. They have been incredibly helpful," says Dæhli.
He reveals that the Norwegian FA is paying the difference in price for the hotel switch, as they are moving to a more expensive hotel. Norway will face England on Saturday evening at 23.00 CET in the World Cup quarter-final.