Politics
‘Bigger than football’: Norway fans’ Viking row makes waves at World Cup
The 'Viking row' has emerged as the breakout viral phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup, coinciding with Norway's advancement to the last 16 - their best
Key takeaways
- The Viking row is the viral phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup.
- Jubilant supporters rowing en masse in Oslo and Bergen produced so much sound that seismologists recorded an earthquake.
- The chant was consciously devised, carefully rehearsed, and massively promoted online by Ole Frøystad and Torstein Hamran.
- The Viking row promotes an unhealthy masculinity aesthetic and toxic, rather laddish vibe.
- Norse symbolism in Scandinavia is associated with far-right, nationalist, and neo-Nazi groups.
The 'Viking row' has emerged as the breakout viral phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup, coinciding with Norway's advancement to the last 16 - their best tournament run since 1998. Devised by primary school teacher Ole Frøystad and promoted online, the synchronized chant involves fans sitting down to mimic rowing a longboat to an accelerating drumbeat. The trend has spread from stadiums to Norwegian MPs, Prince Sverre Magnus, and Royal Air Force pilots, though it has also drawn criticism from Swedish rivals over historical inaccuracies and from commentators concerned about the modern political associations of Norse symbolism.
In their words
“Seeing thousands rowing with you, you feel the energy. It gives you goosebumps.”
“makes you realise you aren’t just 11 guys on the pitch - you’re a whole crew. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
By the numbers
- 38M
- Views on Ole Frøystad's Instagram video of the row
- 3M
- Likes on Ole Frøystad's Instagram video of the row
- 5.6M
- Total population of Norway
How it unfolded
- Norway's football team begins adopting runic script on shirts
- Supporters try out the Viking row in a stadium
- Norway advances to the World Cup last 16
Why this matters
-
Norwegians are historically inaccurate because eastern Swedish Vikings were the rowers, while Norwegian Vikings were transatlantic sailors.
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Common questions
- What happened with Norway?
- The Viking row is the viral phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup.
- Where can I read the original report?
- Read the full report at guardian_world.
