Norway players celebrate World Cup win over Senegal with traditional "Viking row"
Martin Regard and Erling Haaland led the Norwegian team in a celebratory "Viking row" on the pitch after defeating Senegal. The victory marks Norway's first appearance in the tournament knockout stages since 1998.
Amalgamated from The Sun (opens in new tab), Daily Mail (opens in new tab), NY Times World (opens in new tab)
The Norwegian national football team secured a 3-2 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages. This result marks the first time the nation has reached this stage of the competition in 28 years.
Following the match, captain Martin Regard and forward Erling Haaland led the players and backroom staff in a "Viking row" celebration on the pitch. According to The Sun, the team performed the rhythmic rowing motion alongside thousands of fans while Regard beat a drum to coordinate the movement. The Daily Mail reported that this performance took place as the squad moved into the next phase of the tournament.
The "Viking Row" has evolved into a broader cultural phenomenon among supporters. The New York Times reports that fans dressed in red have been observed performing the row in various locations, including schools and nursing homes. While the gesture has gained significant visibility, reporting from the New York Times indicates that not every observer was favorable toward the display.
Why this matters
The victory marks a significant milestone for Norwegian football, ending a nearly three-decade drought of reaching the knockout stages. The widespread adoption of the "Viking row" by fans in various public settings suggests the movement is becoming a prominent cultural symbol for the team's supporters.
What's confirmed / what isn't
Multiple sources confirm the 3-2 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium and the participation of Odegard and Haaland in the celebration. The extent of the fan phenomenon in schools and nursing homes is reported by the New York Times as a broader cultural occurrence.
Background
The "Viking Row" is a traditional Norwegian gesture, often performed during sports events and associated with historical Norse imagery.