World Cup fever grips Larsen family in New York

Jørgen Strand Larsen's family is soaking in the World Cup atmosphere in New York, blending a family vacation with support for their son, who is part of the Norwegian squad. His father, Atle Wester Larsen, described the experience as "unreal" and "on top of the world," with multiple family members gathering in Manhattan to cheer him on.

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Norway is playing in the World Cup. That's one thing. And then you have a son in the squad. It's just completely unreal.

Despite the excitement, Larsen's father acknowledged the competitive landscape, noting Jørgen's role as a forward alongside star player Erling Braut Haaland. He praised Jørgen's ability to accept and manage his position on the team, while also recognizing his desire to play. "He is great at accepting and handling the role he has," his father told VG. "But at the same time, he is like everyone else. He wants to play."

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It's as cool as it gets, this summer.

The family's World Cup experience faced a brief scare when Larsen reported a fever just two days before Norway's opening match. His father admitted it was a "downer" and a "typical" setback for something so long-anticipated. Fortunately, Larsen recovered overnight, sweating out the fever and feeling well enough to travel and participate. The cause of the illness remains unknown.

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He sent me a message: 'Fever,' he wrote.

As Norway prepares for a crucial match against Senegal, the family remains optimistic. Larsen's father believes Senegal is being overhyped and is confident Norway can perform well. His younger half-brother, Markus, expressed amazement at Norway's current strength, describing the rapid ascent as "crazy." The family hopes for a long tournament run for Norway, with the elder Larsen stating that even a close loss to a strong team like Brazil would be acceptable, but not before Norway attempts to win.

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He wrote to me that he had sweated out all the fever in one night. Now he feels completely fine.