Norway fans made their presence felt in Times Square by performing the iconic Viking row ahead of their next FIFA World Cup clash.
The ongoing World Cup is Norway’s fourth appearance at the tournament and their first in 28 years. Since the 2026 World Cup kicked off, Norway fans have become a viral sensation for their Viking row celebration, where a number of supporters gather at a location and sway back and forth in unison while chanting.
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Ahead of their opening game against Iraq, a crowd of Norwegian fans took over Boston and sent the internet buzzing after footage emerged showing them performing the Viking row on an escalator. The clip, shared by Barstool Sports, went viral and gained over 1 million views.
The Norway national team got off to a flyer in north America, defeating Iraq 4-1 at the Boston Stadium, with Erling Haaland marking his World Cup debut with a brace. The win left them on top of Group I on goal difference, level with France, who defeated Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day.
Next up for Norway is a clash against Senegal, where a win will see them qualify for the knockout stages. On the eve of the match, Norway fans took over New York City’s Times Square with the Viking row. The group chanted ‘Hoo! Hoo!’ and swayed backward and forward in unison after every drum beat, much to the delight of fans.
One wrote:
“An invasion I welcome wholeheartedly.”
Another wrote:
“That is the quietest Times Square has ever been (minus the chant).”
A third remarked:
“This might be the best tradition.”
“Is all of Norway here??? 😂” one queried.
“Like we’re going into battle” – Norway fan explains Viking row done at 2026 World Cup
Charismatic Norway fan Ole Frøystad said the Viking row done by fans at the 2026 World Cup is a symbolic tradition rooted in the country’s proud Viking heritage.
The self-proclaimed ‘Viking Son of the North’ mentioned that the Vikings make the gesture before a battle and stressed that they have replicated it as a show of support for the national team.
“The rowing goes way back to the to the Viking era,” Frøystad said on CBS Sports. “They took in their sails, they put up their oars, went into shore and they did that right before battle. So, it kind of fits with the national team like we’re going into battle. Let’s get to work and let’s row. So that’s kind of what it symbolizes plus a lot more.”
In addition to fans taking over north American cities with the Viking row, the World Cup fever has reached the Norwegian parliament, as the country’s lawmakers paused a parliamentary session last Thursday, June 18, to perform the synchronised move in support of their national team.
Edited by Ezekiel Olamide
