Vålerenga Fotball will honour King Harald V by asking all attendees to dress in black ahead of their Eliteserien home match against Molde at Intility Arena on 30 August 2026. The tribute is a response to the King’s passing and is organised in cooperation with supporter groups Østblokka and Kanari-Fansen.
The club wishes to mark respect and gratitude for King Harald V’s long-standing support of Norwegian football. According to Mithilan Ahilan, arrangement manager at Vålerenga Elite, he said: "We wish to mark the passing". The initiative follows the Royal Family’s confirmation that King Harald V died on 26 August 2026 after a brief illness.
Eirik Bjørnø, daily leader at Viking Fotball, has coordinated the tribute at the request of Vålerenga and said: "We wish to honour the King". He emphasised that the gesture is meant as a unified action from both clubs and their fans, regardless of on-pitch rivalry.
Both Østblokka and Kanari-Fansen have confirmed full participation in the act. Supporters are encouraged to wear entirely black attire without club colours or logos to create a unified expression of respect. The initiative has also received support from Svein Graff, daily leader at Vålerenga Fotball Elite, who confirms that security plans have been adjusted to accommodate the increased attendance.
The match against Molde will proceed as scheduled at 17:00 at Intility Arena, but with a memorial moment before kickoff. Vålerenga Fotball currently sits 8th in Eliteserien with 22 points from 18 games, and faces a Molde side lying fourth. You can look ahead to the next fixture on our fixtures page.
The arrangement demonstrates how football clubs can come together to honour national figures, even during periods of intense competition. It is a clear sign that respect and tradition hold greater value than league points for honouring King Harald V’s legacy to Norwegian sport.
