How Norway's 'Viking Row' was made, and then took over the World Cup - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When was the first time you noticed Norway fans' now-infamous «Viking Row?»

Maybe it was when a group of fans rowed up an escalator in downtown Boston, or when thousands of proud Norwegians rowed together in Times Square, or in the stands at any of Norway's three group games.

Maybe it was when rowers interrupted the soft claps at last weekend's Traveller's Championship PGA Tour event, when Norwegian players Vikor Hovland and Kristoffer Reitan were followed by rowers. (Hovland, for his part, was so buoyed by the «electric» chants that he won Monday's playoff over Scottie Scheffler.)

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It typically starts with the blowing of a traditional Norse horn before everyone sits down on the floor in a formation resembling a Viking longboat. From there, the leader bangs a drum — slowly at first, but quickening with every beat — while the fans row their arms back in unison and chant, «Row!»

Norway's players have seen it, too. It was all over star striker Erling Haaland's social media algorithm, and the squad even performed a row in front of its fans after a 3-2 win over Senegal that guaranteed it a place in the knockout rounds, led by captain Martin Ødegaard banging a drum.

Playing at their first World Cup in almost 30 years, Norway have been as adamant as any side that their main objective is simply to have fun.

The row has, without a doubt, taken the World Cup by storm, similar to how Iceland's «Thunder Clap» took over Euro 2016. Soccer chants are typically organic, with roots that are hard to retrace. The row, however, is different.

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