Norway's World Cup team powers up with 500kg of elite seafood

Norway’s national football team is fuelling its World Cup campaign with a seafood-rich diet. Chef Aron Espeland has brought 500kg of high-quality Norwegian seafood to the US to support the players’ performance. The menu features salmon, trout, saithe, Arctic char, turbot, halibut, king crab, snow crab, and langoustines. Espeland will prepare four daily meals for over 60 people during the tournament. The dishes are designed to be high-performance, healthy, and nutritious, aiding the team’s preparation for group-stage matches. Seafood plays a key role in the diet, offering essential proteins and nutrients for peak match-day performance and recovery.

The high protein content in fish helps repair muscle fibres on rest days. Omega-3-rich seafood also reduces post-match inflammation and accelerates recovery. Meanwhile, Christian André Pettersen, Norway’s Bocuse d’Or entrant, sees France as a culinary ally but differs on seafood approaches. He won silver at Bocuse d’Or Europe in March and will compete in the final in January 2027. Norway and France currently lead the medal table in the prestigious competition. The Norwegian squad will rely on this carefully planned diet to maintain energy and recover quickly. Espeland’s seafood-focused meals aim to keep the players in top condition throughout the World Cup. The team’s preparation highlights the importance of nutrition in elite sports performance.