Norway’s Erling Haaland (9) leads the team as they take part in a viking boat row after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near Recent York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Erling Haaland banged the drum to guide Norway fans within the Viking Row that has turn out to be a signature a part of the World Cup.
After celebrating carrying his nation into the quarterfinals of the tournament for the primary time by scoring each goals in a 2-1 win over Brazil on Sunday, his thoughts drifted to the scene back home where tens of hundreds of Norwegians partied into the night.
And, in fact, performing the Viking Row themselves.
“Have a look at the streets in Norway,” Haaland said. “I’ve never experienced anything prefer it before. I type of wish that I used to be in Oslo now celebrating with all of the people.”
Thankfully for his teammates, the Manchester City striker is within the U.S. piling up the goals and making this the most effective World Cup within the history of Norway’s men’s national team.
This improbable run that took one other step forward by knocking off five-time champion Brazil is stirring up pride in fans at stadiums and within the streets where the games are going down, and across the Scandinavian country of just over 5.5 million people.
Norwegian fans perform a viking boat row before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near Recent York, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
As many as 50,000 people were watching the match against Brazil at Rådhusplassen — the square outside the town hall — in Norwegian capital Oslo, based on the town council. Wearing a Norway soccer scarf around his neck, Crown Prince Haakon even met a throng of fans outside the royal palace and was seen collaborating in a mass Viking Row after the sport.
Fireworks exploded at Ullevaal Stadium, the house ground of Norway’s national team and where hundreds more sat on long tables to view the sport.
“The entire nation is rowing together,” coach Ståle Solbakken said. “We’re having an ideal party here and in Oslo and in all the opposite big and small cities all through Norway, and the rowing is in a way an emblem of that and that we’re all together.”
Giant crowds of fans within the red, white and blue colours of the flag turned the rowing right into a viral sensation by taking up Times Square and doing it within the stands at a Recent York Mets baseball game. They may get at the least another likelihood to see Norway play, against England on Saturday outside Miami with the possibility to succeed in the semifinals.
“Now we have to maintain the feet on the bottom,” captain Martin Ødegaard said. “We’ve shown that we will beat anyone and that we’re really having fun with what we’re doing. We’re having fun, and in football all the things is feasible so just keep the foot on the ground, keep working hard and we’ll see what happens and just float.”
Norway is within the World Cup for just the fourth time and the primary since 1998 after failing to qualify each of the past six times. Haaland, who turns 26 on July 21, was not even born then and joked that nobody can blame him for previous defeats when he wasn’t playing.
“You’ll be able to blame me for coming here,” said Haaland, whose seven goals at his first World Cup are tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé. “It’s unbelievable. I’m proud. I’m pleased with my country, and I’m pleased with everyone.”
Indeed, it continues a fairytale season for Norwegian soccer, with Bodø/Glimt — a tiny team that plays in an 8,000-capacity stadium — delivering one of the vital extraordinary stories for years within the European game by qualifying for the Champions League and beating a string of top teams, including Haaland’s Man City, to succeed in the knockout stage.
Now the national men’s team is taking center stage in its first major international tournament since 2000. The players need to emulate Norway’s women’s team, which won the World Cup in 1995 and has long been a top international side.
Haaland said several times after beating Brazil that he couldn’t imagine such a victory was possible and that it was beyond his wildest dreams to tug it off.
He also hopes Norway’s success transcends this 12 months and makes kids wish to represent their country.
“I would like to really also cultivate a culture where we’re proud to play for the national team, and when you play for Norway then you need to do it proudly and I believe we should always cultivate this type of attitude in young people,” Haaland said.
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“To all the youngsters who see and watch now, I would like you to do like me, and I would like you to play proudly whenever you grow up.”