Norwegian fans host a ‘Viking Row’ on Miami Beach ahead of match against England
Ahead of the match between Norway and England in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, Norwegian fans took over Miami Beach to perform their now viral “Viking Row,” where they drop onto the ground and move their arms as if rowing a boat through water. On Friday, hundreds of Miami locals joined Norwegians to help row their team to victory on Ocean Drive.
The Viking Row, an homage to Norway’s Viking ancestry, mirrors the energy of soldiers arriving to shore, ready for battle. A more recent phenomenon for Norwegian fans, the chant was first used in March before Norway began playing in the World Cup. Now, a social media sensation, fans from all over the world have fallen in love with Norway’s battle cry.
In Friday’s 90-degree heat, red-faced fans were unbothered by the sweltering sun and the rough concrete of Ocean Drive. Having started their afternoon drinking at Miami Beach’s restaurants and bars, just as the Tartan Army did weeks before, fans and locals gathered to begin their “voyage” at peak sunlight. Miami Beach mayor Steven Meiner even joined the chant, giving a warm welcome to the hundreds of fans waiting for tomorrow’s game.
Anders Røberg-Larsen, mayor of Grorud, a district in Oslo, Norway, carried a Norwegian flag over the crowd. Dressed in sunglasses, a Viking helmet, and a jersey, he was a beacon for Norwegians and locals alike. A crowd surrounded him with phones at the ready, eager to snap a picture with him.
He didn’t plan on traveling to Miami, but after Norway beat Brazil, he figured it was time to take the trip. He plans to attend the game tomorrow, where he’ll be able to see the team in action once more.
“I couldn’t dream of this,” Røberg-Larsen said. “I’m very into soccer, we have some good players, but to go all this way, I think it’s unbelievable.”
He knows it’ll be a tough matchup, and while he can’t guarantee Norway’s victory, he’s looking forward to seeing how tough they fight. But he says it’s been a blast to share Norway’s pride with Miami and with the world.
“Meet us, join us now in the party, and you will get to know us,” he said. “We’re very nice people, so we’d love to speak to all of you!”
Per Olav Tegnander led the second row minutes after the first one concluded. Standing with a microphone on a fire truck, he calmed the crowd before slamming down and shouting, “Row.”
“I feel ready like spaghetti,” Tegnander said.
He says he’s performed hundreds of rows as Norway progressed to the quarterfinals. It’s a chant that rallies the troops and keeps the energy up, even when the game gets close.
“We’re in our prime, so it’s nice to be here,” he said. “We’re doing the row collectively. We got to row the boat together.”
Tegnander is happy to see that more people are witnessing Norway’s vibrant community.
“This is the culture of Norway. There’s this unity, but there’s more room for us to grow as a community,” he said.
June Skamdsen, 46, was ready to cheer on Norway’s star player Erling Haaland, who hails from the same city in Norway as she does.
She’s ready to row, sing and scream throughout the game tomorrow.
“Norwegians, we have a heart,” Skamdsen said. “Norway is a small country. The U.S. is very big. So I’d like to set Norway on the map.”
Anna and Juliana Silva, two Brazilians who came to witness the row, said they were still reeling from Norway’s victory over their team but they found the Norwegians’ excitement contagious.
“It’s cool to see the row in person,” Juliana said. “It was bittersweet at first, but they’re adorable.”
This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 2:41 PM with the headline "Norwegian fans host a ‘Viking Row’ on Miami Beach ahead of match against England."