Norway's Viking rowing goes viral at 2026 World Cup

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Norwegian supporters created a coordinated “Viking rowing” celebration – fans and players sit shoulder‑to‑shoulder, swing their arms and chant “Ro!” to mimic rowing a drakkar. The chant quickly spread beyond stadiums to Times Square, Norway’s Parliament, the royal family, schools, the armed forces and even to the Brazilian fan base. Brazilian supporters adapted the move by mixing it with the funk rhythm of “Créu”, producing a viral “Brazilian rowing” video that was shared on social media before the Brazil‑Norway round‑of‑16 match. The phenomenon has been covered by media in Norway, Brazil, Germany, the United States and other countries, illustrating how a football ritual can become a global cultural meme.

The celebration has been reproduced by the Norwegian military in an Instagram video, by legislators in the Storting, and by celebrities and influencers worldwide, cementing the “Viking rowing” as one of the most recognizable images of this World Cup.