What is the 'Viking Row' and why has it gone viral at the 2026 World Cup?

Norway fans have gone viral for their ‘Viking row’ celebration

England will face Norway in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals after an epic 3-2 victory against co-host Mexico in the Azteca Stadium on Monday.

Norway has made history by reaching the last eight for the first time at the World Cup after beating Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 18.

But it is not just their performance that has been making waves at the tournament. Norway’s unique celebration has taken over social media and captured the imagination of football fans around the world.

While England have celebrated their wins with rousing fan-led sing-a-longs of Oasis’ Wonderwall, Norway have leant into the country’s Viking heritage.

The ‘Viking row’ celebration involves large groups of fans performing a synchronised seated movement that mimics rowing a ship to the beat of a drum, similar to the style of Iceland’s famous 2017 “Viking Clap”.

The supporters, usually wearing Viking helmets and the team’s red-and-blue jerseys, row in unison, forward and backward, to the steady beat of the drum.

Norwegian fans perform Viking boat row with some Brazil fans caught in the middle. / Credit: AP

Erling Haaland joined his team in doing the ‘Viking row’ after he scored two goals against Senegal, helping them win the match / Credit: AP

After beating Senegal on June 23, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, the team’s top scorer, encouraged teammates to sit down on the pitch and do the Viking Row while he banged on a drum in celebration.

Haaland had earlier told Fox Sports that he was a huge fan of the chant.

“I saw it online; it’s gone completely viral,” Haaland told Fox Sports. “Martin [Ødegaard] asked me before the game: ‘Do you think we should join in?’ I said, ‘If we win, let’s do it, why not?'”

But where did this move come from?

Superfan Ole Frøystad, also known as Mr Row on social media, claims to have founded this new tradition.

Speaking to CBS, he said that the motion is similar to what the Vikings would have done as they sailed their ships into the shore before battle.

Frøystad has taken his trend from Boston to Times Square in New York, repeatedly banging a drum and chanting “row” to the crowd.

Describing the atmosphere in Boston to CBS, he said everyone was “hugging, partying, jumping and rowing”.

The trend is now so widespread that politicians were spotted doing the ‘Viking row’ in Norway’s parliament, along with members of the royal family.

Norway fans are not the only ones gaining publicity for their actions this World Cup.

The Tartan Army became famous not only for their bagpipes, but for their ability to drink Boston pubs dry.

The Tartan Army have been well received in Boston, despite causing local pubs to run out of beer / Credit: AP

Dutch supporters, known as the Orange Legion, also went viral for their group dance, which involves jumping side to side to the Snollebollekes tune Links Rechts, which translates to ‘Left Right’.