Norway fans have plenty to celebrate as their football team continues their promising run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marching their way to the quarter-finals and are set to take on England on Saturday for a place in the last four.Descendants of the Vikings – better known to many through history books and popular streaming series – have embraced a celebration inspired by their seafaring heritage. Hundreds of Norwegian fans, joined by stars such as Erling Haaland and skipper Martin Ødegaard, gathered to recreate the synchronized movement of the oars of a Viking longship after each victory in this World Cup.The celebration has emerged as one of the defining moments of this World Cup, becoming so popular that Google even created a special animation to honor it.However, a fan appears far from impressed by the group’s activities. While thousands of supporters joined the rowing celebration, Emil Lappen could be seen sitting in silent protest, refusing to imitate the action.Speaking to Sky Sports in a video interview, Lappen explained the reason for his disagreement.“I just know it’s really stupid, that’s how I felt when they got it, that it was stupid and annoying and I didn’t want to do it.“It’s a lot of what the Icelanders did, and it’s actually wrong. They didn’t row, they sailed across the Atlantic. Changing one movement isn’t enough to get away from being a copy of exactly what they did.”Iceland’s famous Viking Clap had become a global sensation during UEFA Euro 2016. Iceland players and supporters stood together after matches, raising their hands before clapping in unison while chanting “Huh!” , creating one of the most iconic celebrations of football fans.“All they wanted was the same reaction from people, and then they just changed the movement. It’s the same thing. The Vikings sailed across the Atlantic. They didn’t row across the Atlantic,” added Lappen.Lappen argued that the celebration is historically inaccurate and said he did not appreciate it.“The Vikings rowed rivers and things like that. But across the Atlantic, they sailed. I wanted to show that I didn’t appreciate it, and I think I got the message. I’ll support you from the comfort of my chair at home. No rowing, no rowing anywhere!”The Norwegian fan also criticized the celebratory song associated with the rowing tradition.“A song they released, along with rowing. They said they were going to row across the Atlantic and that’s why I was so annoyed.”
Origin of the Viking Row Celebration
The now famous party was the brainchild of a fan. In December 2025, the Norwegian supporter Ole Froystad, affectionately called “Mr Row Row”, performed a song.“It’s a lot of fun to see people come together and row as one. It creates a real sense of unity,” Froystad told FIFA. com, adding that the celebration had become “much bigger than I ever imagined. It’s absolutely crazy.”Norway’s official supporters’ club soon turned the idea into a match ritual. “Everything started with Ole’s idea. So we developed together,” Torstein Hamran, a member of the board of the supporters’ club Oljeberget Supporterklubb told FIFA. com.The first attempt against Switzerland in March this year drew mixed reactions. “Some people loved it, while others thought it looked a little silly,” I admitted. But after a friendly against Sweden in June, everything changed. “This is going to be huge,” supporters predicted — and they were right, Hamran added.