After eliminating record five-time champions Brazil 2-1 from the World Cup, Norway’s football team celebrated with the “Viking Row” yesterday.
The “Viking Row” is a celebration in which a group of people sit on the ground or in their seats and rock their bodies back and forth in a rowing motion. Norwegian fans took part in this celebration against Brazil.
A drummer sets the rhythm, and every two beats, the crowd chants “row” together as the collective celebration continues.
The celebration was originally started as a tribute to Norway’s Viking heritage. Between 800 and 1050 AD, Norway was one of the main homelands of the Vikings. That historic “Viking Age” played a significant role in shaping the modern Norwegian state and national identity.
Who started the “Viking Row”?
Well-known Norwegian supporter Ole Frøystad is credited with starting the “Viking Row” celebration. He first launched it with fellow supporters at a friendly match against Switzerland in March 2026. It caught on with fans immediately, but the “Viking Row” went viral worldwide once the World Cup began, bringing him fame — earning him the nickname “Mr. Row Row.”
Now it’s not just fans — Norwegian players are joining in too. Before the knockout match against Ivory Coast and after securing a place in the round of 16, star forward Erling Haaland and midfielder Martin Ødegaard led their teammates in the “Viking Row” celebration.
In a recent interview with Inside FIFA, Ole Frøystad said: “It’s incredible joy to see people rowing together in the same rhythm. It creates a feeling of unity. The Viking Row has become far more popular than I ever imagined. It’s truly unbelievable.”
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