The home kit features a pattern inside the blue stripes on the chest, taken from the ornamentation of Urnes Stave Church, Norway's first UNESCO World Heritage site, built in the 1130s and listed since 1979. The Fortidsminneforening (Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments), which owns the church, was not informed about the use of the ornamentation. According to NRK Vestland, secretary general Ola Fjeldheim described the design as "absolutely fantastic" and noted that the ornamentation belongs to the public domain, having been used on passports, coins, and banknotes. The printing on the kits is produced by NTP Avery Dennison in Gaupne, near the church. According to NRK Vestland, daily manager Mikkel Frodahl described the design as "tremendously cool" and a source of pride for locals.
The kit prices have drawn criticism from Norwegian MP Mimir Kristjansson, who called them "completely insane" and a "rip-off." The cheapest fan version costs 1,249 Norwegian kroner (approx. 110 euros), the authentic player version costs 1,849 kroner (approx. 163 euros), and a kit with Haaland's name on the back can cost over 2,100 kroner (approx. 185 euros). Kristjansson said the prices create division among children in schoolyards. NFF's commercial director Jan Ove Nystuen said prices follow general increases and are set by Nike, adding that "everything is more expensive nowadays." Kristjansson expressed doubt that the jerseys would sell out before the World Cup.
It's absolutely fantastic! Great fun. It's beautiful and iconic ornamentation, and that it is used to decorate a national team kit is very nice.
Sports retailer Unisport has sold over 220,000 World Cup kits. Additional controversies surround the kits: NFF has been given an April 30 deadline to remove supporter clothing featuring a lion logo, as the government attorney says the full-figure lion is nearly identical to the national coat of arms and therefore illegal. Flag expert Jan Oskar Engene believes the home kit's flag design has incorrect proportions, with the cross too wide and white stripes too narrow. Engene predicted social media criticism and questions for NFF. Meanwhile, Haaland reportedly said "Love it" about the black away kit, according to Nystuen.
It's nice that Norwegian cultural heritage gets to be part of an international arena, even though the biggest focus will probably be on Haaland and what he does with the ball.
We have not been in contact with either NFF or Nike about this. It came as a surprise. But the ornamentation belongs to the community. It has been used on passports, coins, and banknotes. So it's just nice that it is being used and activated.
For us who are from or live in Sogn, it's tremendously cool. It's a pride that the kit has inspiration from Urnes. I think people here find it a little extra fun.
The prices are completely insane. 1,249 kroner for a jersey is an absolutely ridiculous amount.
This is unbelievable ripoff. Most people would do just fine with just the fan jersey, but even that is too expensive.
The result is that in the schoolyard, you divide into those who have the more expensive jersey and those who don't.
Everything is more expensive nowadays. Clothes are generally more expensive, and unfortunately that is also the case for football jerseys.
If the jerseys sell out before the World Cup, I don't understand anything anymore.
I guess that comments will quickly appear on social media that it is not a Norwegian flag. I wouldn't be surprised if NFF has to answer questions about it.
Love it