Norway's national soccer team has relocated its hotel in Florida ahead of its World Cup quarterfinal match against England due to player complaints about noise. The team spent only one night at The Dalmar hotel in Fort Lauderdale before moving to a new accommodation closer to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Several players voiced concerns to team management about disruptive noise from ongoing construction and traffic, prompting an official complaint to FIFA. The move was executed within two and a half hours, according to Norway's logistics manager, Truls Daehli, who stated that the players were satisfied with the new hotel and that the decision prioritized maintaining a positive team atmosphere.
"We have strong people in our support team and managed to move in two-and-a-half hours," Daehli told The Independent. "The process of changing hotel is not ideal but we wanted to take action as soon as possible. Having a good atmosphere is most important."
FIFA has agreed to cover the costs for 50 rooms and security at the new hotel. Any additional charges for upgraded player requests will be borne by the Norwegian football association. The team has been in the United States for six weeks and is preparing for what is described as the biggest match in Norwegian history, marking their first World Cup quarterfinal appearance and first World Cup participation in 28 years.
"We are going to stay for a week in Miami and we have now been for six weeks in the United States and we are going to play in the biggest match in Norwegian history," Daehli added. "We have avoided cabin fever so far and don’t want any risk of it now. FIFA have accepted that we must move to another hotel."