Viking Row
Norwegian football chant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 has 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 with supporters.[9] The Norwegian Royal Family posted a video on social media of Crown Prince Haakon and Prince Sverre Magnus rowing the Myklebust ship and the crowds rowing outside the Royal Palace in response to the trend.[10]
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.[11] Eventually the trend spread to large parts of Norwegian society with kindergartens, schools, hospitals and retirement homes around Norway joining in.[12]
During the Norway - Ivory Coast match on July 1st 2026 the collective Norwegian rowing celebrations in Oslo and Bergen registered as earthquakes.[13]
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.[14]
On 5 July 2026, following Norway's victory over Brazil, Crown Prince Haakon joined supporters performing the Viking Row outside the Royal Palace.[15][16]
Origin
The row chant was made by Ole Frøystad, who pitched the idea to the Norwegian supporter club "Oljeberget" in late 2025.[17][18] Fans first used it during a March 2026 friendly match against Switzerland.[19] It gained popularity after it was used in a friendly match against Sweden on June 1, 2026.[20]
Before being adopted by Norwegian football supporters in 2026, coordinated "Viking rowing" had been a well-known audience ritual in the heavy metal scene for many years, particularly at concerts by the Swedish viking metal band Amon Amarth. The ritual, often performed during the song "Put Your Back Into the Oar", involves audiences sitting on the ground and mimicking the rowing of a Viking longship in unison.[21][22]
Reception
Reception to the Viking Row has been mostly positive, with some concerned about the celebration of Vikings in regards to historical controversy.
In Norway
Reception in Norway has been positive, with the Norwegian parliament[8] and Royal Family performing the chant.[23]
Innovation Norway's Director of Travel, Aase Marthe Horrigmo praised the chant for bringing more attention to the country.[24] 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.[24]
Norwegian tourism attractions reported increased interest. Ellen Marie Næss at the Viking Ship Museum said that the Viking Age story is interesting in itself, but the chant has created a boost.[25] Jacob Bredesen at Sagastad said the chant was some of the best marketing Norway ever had.[26] Mette Brinchmann at Viking Farm also confirmed increased interest.[23]
Other Nordic countries
Reception 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.[27] Danish journalist Johnny Wojciech Kokborg described it as "bordering on Nordic adult bullying."[27]
Anglo-American media
The New York Times has praised the chant for capturing the American public's imagination.[28] 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.[29]