Forget Erling Haaland; even Mbappe was not born when Norway played their last World Cup. The Norwegian side waited 28 years to play amongst the best footballing nations of the world. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup, they defeated Brazil 2-1 and played the round of 16. However, they were eliminated 1-0 by Italy in the round of 16. Now, every fan is waiting for Norway's next game against Senegal on June 22 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
From a Norwegian perspective, this World Cup is not just a six-to-seven-game tournament, but means a lot more than that. With stars like Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland, this Norway side is one of the strongest contenders to lift the trophy. With a 4-1 victory over Iraq in the opening game at Gillette Stadium, they have proven what they're capable of.
However, the key highlight was not Iraq's equalizer or Haaland's amazing goals; it was the Norse chant that took the game to another level. The roaring Norwegian fans made it look like a "Viking Invasion", which went viral on social media. Now, every fan is waiting for Norway's next game against Senegal on June 22 in the East Rutherford Stadium.
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The Chant That Took Over the World Cup
While the videos of the Norse chant are going viral right now, it started way before the FIFA World Cup 2026. When Norway was playing against Sweden at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, fans launched a synchronized rowing chant that echoed across the stadium. Imagine rows of fans in Viking helmets rowing their arms in unison, forward and backward, looking exactly like a Viking longship in motion.
Their chant is called the Norse chant, where fans shout "Ro! Ro!" which means "Row" in Norwegian language. It draws from the country's deep-rooted Viking heritage, and the visual parallel is impossible to miss. Norway's Viking chant reminds me of Iceland's Thunder clap at Euro 2016, which resonated globally and was later adopted by sports teams across many disciplines.
When the matchday arrived, the chant had already escaped the stadium. A huge group of Norway fans came in full Viking gear to perform a synchronized Viking Row at Boston Stadium. And those clips went viral. The current Norway Football Team has gone unbeaten through FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and is probably in the right spot to deliver their best performance in decades.
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Meet Mr. Row Row, the man at the centre.
Social media has a unique power of making celebrities. Ole Frøystad, also known as Mr. Row Row, was at the centre of it. His handle @mr.row.row, which started the trend, and his footage of the Viking row spread fast enough that Fox Sports credited him directly via Instagram. When a major American broadcaster puts your handle on screen, you're already miles ahead of most fan accounts.
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Mr Row Row became the most visible fan ambassador for a moment that carried enormous emotional weight. He appeared on CBS Sports' 'Morning Footy' as 'Norway's own Mr. Row Row' to explain the Viking Row trend to a global audience. Weeks ago, he was just a fan in the stands, and now he's the face of Norwegian fans.
The most interesting moment was when Norwegian lawmakers paused a parliamentary session to perform the Viking Row, with the Speaker of Parliament setting the rhythm using his gavel. From stadiums to escalators to TV studios and parliament, Frøystad did not create it but ensured that the world saw it.
