The Viking Row (Norwegian: Viking-roing) is a football chant, consisting of an exaggerated row movement in unison combined with the shouting of the Norwegian word for row ("ro") that is repeated after a drum beat. The chant is designed to evoke the rowing of a Viking ship and is similar to the Viking Thunder Clap.
The chant became prominent during the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Norwegian supporters performed the chant in a variety of settings.[1][2][3] One of the more notable gatherings was when Norwegian fans took over Times Square in New York City while performing the chant, doing so, that time, next to an annual "summer solstice" yoga event held there.[4][5]
Martin Ødegaard led a celebratory chant after defeating Senegal and Ivory Coast where the Norwegian national football team joined the supporters in performing the chant.[6][7]
The chant is being performed by several Norwegian institutions such as the Storting collectively rowing with the entire Norwegian parliament,[8] Sagastad filling the entire deck of the Myklebust Ship[9] and the Norwegian Armed Forces published a video of a Royal Norwegian Air Force pilot performing the Viking Row from the cockpit of an F-35 fighter aircraft.[10]
During the Norway - Ivory Coast match on July 1st 2026 the collective Norwegian rowing celebrations in Oslo and Bergen registered as earthquakes. [11]
In June 2026 over 15,000 people gathered in the main street of the city of Oslo, Karl Johan, outside of the Royal Palace to perform the chant led by Petter Northug.[12]
Origin
editThe row chant was made by Ole Frøystad known as "MrRowRow" who pitched the idea to the Norwegian supporter club "Oljeberget".[13]
Reception
editReception to the Viking Row has been mostly positive, with some concerned about the celebration of Vikings in regards to historical controversy.
In Norway
editReception in Norway has been positive, with the Norwegian parliament[8] and Royal Family performing the chant. [14]
Innovation Norway's Director of Travel, Aase Marthe Horrigmo praised the chant for bringing more attention to the country. [15] Figures in Norwegian academia such as Professor Peggy Simcic Well at BI and Trond Blindheim at Kristina University highlight the tourism value and increased focus on Viking Age history. [15]
Norwegian tourism attractions reported increased interest. Ellen Marie Næss at the Viking Ship Museum said that the Viking Age story is so interesting in itself, biut the chant has created a boost in interest. [16] Jacob Bredesen at Sagastad said the chant was some of the best marketing Norway ever had.[17] Mette Brinchmann at Viking Farm also confirmed increased interest. [14]
Other Nordic countries
editReception in Sweden and Denmark have been mixed.
Swedish players such as Gustaf Lagerbielke and Elliot Stroud felt the Viking row was a copy of the Viking Thunder Clap and overused. [18] Danish journalist Johnny Wojciech Kokborg described it as "bordering on Nordic adult bullying."[18]
Anglo-American Media:
editThe New York Times has praised the chant for capturing the American publics imagination.[19] British writer Gavin Mortimer criticized the Viking Row in the Spectator stating "Vikings also raped, pillaged, murdered and enslaved." and should thus not be celebrated. [20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Callahan, Ryan (2026-06-25). "Norway's Viking Row Takeover at Citi Field". NY Sports Day. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ USA Today (2026-06-26). "Norway fans share powerful moment with players through viral Viking Row". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "The Viking Row: Norway's viral football fan tradition". www.visitnorway.com. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Norway fans take over Times Square and perform mass Viking row". BBC Sport. 2026-06-22. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Henson, Steve (2026-06-22). "Norwegians 'row' Times Square and Tartan Army storms Boston as World Cup fandom takes over U.S. streets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Aliieve, Elmira (2026-06-27). "The Viking Row, a human statue and a Tartan takeover: World Cup trends capture U.S. hearts". NBC News. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ nrk. Her ror Norge etter triumfen mot Elfenbenskysten (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-06-30 – via www.nrk.no.
- 1 2 nrk. Her ror Stortinget (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-06-28 – via www.nrk.no.
- ↑ Breivik, Ingeborg Christensen (2026-06-26). "Folkefesten er i gang: – Vikingene er i VM!". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Bulien, Lina Angelique Nodland (2026-06-26). "Hele Norge ror – send din video her". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-06-30.
- ↑ Alexa, NTB-Iuliana (2026-06-30). "VM-roing etter kampen ga jordskjelvutslag i Oslo og Bergen". www.bt.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Hagen, Mathias (2026-06-26). "VM-fest i hele Norge – verdensrekordforsøket på Karl Johan er i gang". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Vatne, Lauritz Rushfeldt (2026-06-26). "Mannen bak roingen: – Det villeste jeg har opplevd". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 Nyhammer, Ragnhild (2026-06-30). "Turiststader merkar stor interesse for vikingtida etter at heile Noreg ror i VM". NRK (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- 1 2 Breivik, Ingeborg Christensen (2026-06-23). "«Alle» ror: – Litt kleint, men fantastisk PR for Norge". www.nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Schmidt, Martin Tangen (2026-07-01). "Vikingarven får ro-hjelp: – Jeg er rett og slett direkte begeistret". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ "VM-fans har skabt stor interesse for vikingetiden - TV 2". sport.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2026-07-01. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- 1 2 "Why Norway's Viking Row World Cup celebration is annoying their Nordic neighbours". The Independent. 2026-06-24. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Iversen, Patrick (2026-07-01). "How Norway's Viking Row has captured the American imagination". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Mortimer, Gavin (2026-06-29). "Why is the New York Times celebrating the slave-trading Vikings?". The Spectator. Retrieved 2026-07-02.