Erling Haaland powers Norway into the next round and keeps pace in Golden Boot race

On Monday, Norwegians were spotted across New York City dressed in red doing the “Viking row,” a fan ritual in which they sit side-by-side, packed tightly together as if on a ship, and mimic as if they were rowing oars in unison.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On Monday, Norwegians were spotted across New York City dressed in red doing the “Viking row,” a fan ritual in which they sit side by side, packed tightly together as if on a ship and mimic as if they were rowing oars in unison. They did it on the subway, in Times Square and sitting on 33rd Street waiting for a train to Norway’s World Cup game.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

On social media, it looked as if the nation of about 5.6 million people had descended upon Manhattan. Then around 10 p.m. that night, the Norwegians did the row once more inside the New York-New Jersey Stadium, after Norway had defeated Senegal, 3-2.

Team Norway joined in on the row, too, with players doing their own version on the field, facing a sea of red in the stands. Leading the way was Erling Haaland, Norway’s star striker, who scored two goals against Senegal after tallying two last week against Iraq.