Norway’s World Cup run has been full of surprises. But their biggest breakout star isn’t a player. It’s a rowing motion.
Fans sitting in the stands, pulling imaginary oars in perfect sync. Chanting ‘ro’ over and over. The whole thing — the Viking Row — has spread across the US. You’ve seen it on escalators in stadiums. You’ve seen it in the middle of Times Square. It’s become the visual shorthand for Norway’s first serious World Cup run in decades.
And here’s the wild part: none of it existed until seven months ago.
The birth of ‘Ro’
Ole Froystad — now known around Norway as ‘Mr Row Row’ — came up with the idea in December 2025. He wanted a chant that connected to Norway’s Viking history. He shared it with the official supporters’ group, Oljeberget Supporterklubb, and they ran with it.
Board member Torstein Hamran told FIFA how it all came together. ‘It all started with Ole’s idea,’ Hamran said. ‘Then we developed it together. We even recorded a song called Viking Blood, which was released at the end of March and features the Viking Row in the background. Today it’s one of the biggest songs in Norway.’
The chant didn’t fully catch on until a pre-tournament friendly against Sweden. The supporters’ group handed out instructions and used a horn to signal when to start rowing. It worked.
By the time Norway knocked out Ivory Coast in the round of 32, the players wanted in. They asked for Hamran’s drum — the one you see in viral clips. ‘I had to run across several sections of the stadium to get it to them,’ Hamran said. ‘I bought that little second-hand drum back in 2023, and now it’s famous all over the world.’
What it looks like now
After wins, you’ll see captain Martin Odegaard leading the crowd from the field. After Norway’s 2-1 upset over Brazil — where Erling Haaland scored both goals — Haaland took over the job. He stood there, grinning, waving his arms like a conductor as thousands of Norwegians rowed in unison.
It’s the kind of moment that feels older than it is. Fans compare it to Iceland’s Viking Thunder Clap from Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. Same energy. Different country. Different boat.
Norway had been absent from major tournaments since Euro 2000. They hadn’t made the World Cup since 1998. So the row feels like a release. A whole generation of fans who never got to do this before.
Froystad got emotional thinking about it. ‘Hearing people shouting ‘ro’ through the streets of New York was incredible,’ he said. ‘It was one of the greatest moments of my life. The other was against Senegal, when the players sat down and performed the Viking Row perfectly in sync with the supporters. I almost cried. It was extraordinary.’
England faces Norway next. They’d love to shut the whole thing down. But the row isn’t going anywhere. It’s too loud now.
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