Norway secured a spot in the World Cup round of 1/8 on the evening of 30/6 (Norway time), defeating Ivory Coast. The team's next opponent is Brazil, a match sparking hopes among fans for a repeat of their historic 1998 victory. This crucial game, scheduled for 5/7, has triggered a massive travel surge to the US. Thousands of Norwegian fans are already in the country, with many more heading to New York to witness the event.

The demand led to a sharp increase in airfare. On the morning of 1/7 (Norway time), Øystein Schmidt, Head of Communications for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), a major Nordic airline, reported that direct flights from Oslo to New York surpassed 20,000 NOK (approximately 47 million VND) – three times the usual price. By noon on 1/7, all tickets for this route were sold out.

Norwegian forward Erling Haaland during the Ivory Coast versus Norway match in the World Cup 2026 round of 1/16, at Dallas stadium in the US, on 30/6. *Photo: AP*

Despite the direct flight sell-out, passengers can still reach New York by connecting through Stockholm (Sweden) and Copenhagen (Denmark), though limited seats remain. Schmidt explained that the airline industry employs dynamic pricing, meaning ticket prices automatically increase with a sudden surge in search volume for a specific route. He suggested travelers consider SAS flights from Scandinavia to nearby US cities like Boston or Washington, from where they can easily continue their journey to New York by train.

A similar situation was observed at Norwegian airline. Bookings for Oslo - London and Oslo - Amsterdam, two popular transit points to the US, saw a more than 400% increase from 7 PM on 30/6 to 7 AM on 1/7 compared to the same period last year. Some affluent fans have opted for private jets, spending almost 3 million NOK (303,000 USD) to fly from Oslo to New York. This cost excludes match tickets, hotel, and other living expenses. Andreas Oterholt, a private jet broker and CEO of Anona Jets, confirmed that two private jets were chartered immediately after the victory against Ivory Coast, with further demand anticipated before the Brazil match.

The excitement extends to public figures, with popular Norwegian singer Chris Holsten also purchasing a flight ticket to the US right after the Ivory Coast match. He shared, "I have fear of missing out (FOMO) and feel envious of those already in the US. You only live once, and this is an unforgettable moment".

Hoai Anh (According to Dagbladet)