After a break of three years, caused by the pandemic, the stage was again set for an informal football match at the home of the Norwegian Crown Prince and Princess, Skaugum. On June 13 2022, the family held their traditional game at their home in Asker.
Crown Prince Haakon was captain of a team consisting of Norwegian celebrities. This year the team was joined by the professional football players Caroline Graham Hansen and Erling Braut Haaland. Former professional football player Alfie Haalan also participated.
As usual, Crown Princess Mette Marit, Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre Magnus also took part in the football match. The opponents were as usual the team “Vivil IL” which showed up with 24 players. This is a sports team with the purpose of involving those with learning, education and psychological development needs, run in Asker, Bærum and Oslo.
The friendly match at the Skaugum Estate is a result of a collaboration between the Norwegian Crown Prince and the Norwegian Football Association. The match focuses on creating sports enjoyment and inclusion through football. The purpose of the friendly game is to focus on the part of the football family that does not get the attention it deserves and on the sport as an integration arena.
The Crown Prince and Princess have shown their love of football on many engagements. During the annual county tour in 2013, the royals displayed their skills during a football competition in Marnardal.
Mette-Marit and Haakon also tried some “official football” during their official trip to Vietnam a couple of years ago, as they kicked off a match in connection with the project “Football for All”. The project, which was organised in coordination with the Norwegian Football Association, has so far taught 13,000 children to play football, of which half are girls.
The football match was held at the couple’s home, the Skaugum Estate. The Skaugum Estate is located in a setting about 12 miles southwest of Oslo in the Asker municipality. When Crown Prince Haakon married his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2001, King Harald gave the estate as a wedding gift to his son and his wife.
Crown Prince Haakon and his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise also grew up there.
