Initially, the squad arrived in Miami on July 6 and was placed at The Dalmar hotel in Fort Lauderdale, arranged by FIFA. However, after just one night, they had to move to the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale, which is situated about three miles away. Issues at The Dalmar included cigarette smoke, mould, and cleanliness problems in several players’ rooms, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Head coach Stale Solbakken mentioned that while the room issues were resolved promptly, the location of the Four Seasons was less than ideal. The hotel is adjacent to a busy six-lane highway and a construction site, with the nearest beach located about an hour away on foot. This relocation has drawn criticism in Norway, particularly from football analyst Jesper Mathisen, who deemed FIFA’s hotel choice inappropriate given the importance of the upcoming match. He raised concerns that external factors, like noise and hygiene, could impact the players’ rest and preparation for what many consider one of the most significant matches in Norwegian football history.
Despite the criticism regarding the hotel situation, Truls Daehli, head of Norway’s World Cup delegation, commended FIFA for addressing the team’s concerns swiftly. Daehli noted that the decision to change accommodations was driven by the team’s desire to optimize their preparations, as they will be in the area for an entire week. He also confirmed that FIFA would facilitate the transfer of its accommodation package to the Four Seasons, although the Norwegian team would cover the additional expenses due to the higher cost of the new hotel.
Team captain Martin Ødegaard echoed this sentiment, affirming that the shift was intended to ensure optimal conditions ahead of the quarter-final. He stated, “There were some things that could have been better, then we fixed it really just to optimise and prepare ourselves as best as possible for a big match.” The controversy surrounding the hotel contrasts with reports indicating that Argentina’s national team had previously stayed at The Dalmar without any complaints prior to their Round of 32 match against Cape Verde. Norway’s quarter-final against England is set to take place at Miami Stadium on Saturday.
