Norwegian fans have much to celebrate as their football team continues its promising run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it all the way to the quarter-finals and will face England on Saturday for a spot in the last four.The descendants of the Vikings, known to many through history books and a popular streaming series, hosted a celebration inspired by their seafaring heritage. Hundreds of Norwegian fans, along with stars such as Erling Haaland and skipper Martin Odegaard, have gathered after every victory at this World Cup to recreate the synchronized rowing movements of the Viking longships.The celebration has become one of the defining moments of this World Cup, becoming so popular that Google even created a special animation to commemorate it.However, one fan seemed less than impressed with the group’s activities. As thousands of supporters took part in rowing celebrations, Emil Lappen sat in silent protest, refusing to imitate the action.Rapone explained why he disagreed in a video interview with Sky Sports.“I just thought it was really stupid, that’s how I felt when they came up with this, it was stupid and annoying and I didn’t want to do it.“A lot of what the Icelanders did was wrong. Instead of rowing, they crossed the Atlantic. Changing a motion is not enough to make it no longer a replica of what they did.”Iceland’s famous Viking Ovation became a global sensation during Euro 2016. After the game, Icelandic players and fans will stand together, raise their hands and applaud in unison, while chanting “Ha!” , creating one of the most iconic fan celebrations in football.“All they wanted was the same reaction from people, and then they just changed the action. It’s the same thing. The Vikings crossed the Atlantic. They didn’t row across the Atlantic,” Lapen added.Rapone believed the celebration was historically inaccurate and said he didn’t appreciate it.“The Vikings rowed rivers and stuff. But they crossed the Atlantic. I wanted to make it clear that I didn’t appreciate it, and I think I got the message across. I would support them from the comfort of my chair at home. Not rowing, not rowing anywhere!”The Norwegian fan also criticized celebratory songs linked to the rowing tradition.“They released a song with Rowing. They said they were going to row across the Atlantic, which is why I was so annoyed about it.”
The origin of Viking Walk Celebrations
The now famous celebration was a fan’s idea. In December 2025, Norwegian supporter Ole Froystad, affectionately known as “Mr Rollo”, composed a slogan.“It’s so fun to see people come together to row. It creates a real sense of togetherness,” Freostad told FIFA. com, adding that the celebration was “much bigger than I imagined. This is absolutely crazy. “The official Norwegian supporters club soon turned the idea into a match-day ritual. “It all started with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s idea. Then we developed it together,” Torstein Hamran, a board member of supporters club Oljeberget Supporterklubb, told FIFA. com.The first attempt against Switzerland in March this year elicited mixed reactions. “Some people like it and others think it looks a bit silly,” he admits. But everything changed after a friendly against Sweden in June. “It’s going to be huge,” supporters predicted – and they were right. ” Hamran added.
