New Delhi: As Norway gears up for its 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash against England, its striker Erling Haaland has been given a tribute by Google to mark his seven goals in the tournament. When users search for his name in Google, the page displays a fleet of seven cartoon Vikings in traditional Norwegian costume rowing across the bottom of the screen, accompanied by a thumping drum and cheering sound effects.
“One thing to do today… search my name on Google,” Haaland said in an X post on Thursday.
The tribute marks the Norway national football team’s iconic “Viking Row” celebration, which the squad has made famous after each of their tournament victories, including their upset against Brazil.
‘Going to back Norway with all the chants’
The “Viking Row” celebration has captivated fans both inside the stadium and virtually around the world, becoming one of the most recognisable traditions of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The Norwegian ‘Viking Row’ has become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup! It isn’t just a celebration anymore—it’s become a global phenomenon,” an X user posted on social media.
Ole Froystad, an elementary school teacher from Norway, conceptualised the “Ro!” (Row!) chant and pitched it to the national supporter group, Oljeberget. The celebration was first carried out in Oslo during a friendly match against Switzerland in March, receiving a highly mixed initial reception. They also record an official anthem called Viking Blood featuring the row rhythm.
“The rowing refers to the Vikings. Before they went to battle, they brought in their sailed, they took their horses out and rowed into shore. That’s exactly what our boys on the soccer field is doing. They are going to battle,” he said.
It’s for the team, they need the rowers, they need the cheering, he said, adding, “Doesn’t matter if we are winning or losing, we are going to back them wll all the chants. It’s fun to see that (the celebration) is creating unity between people. It’s doing a lot more than I had ever imagined.”
After Norway’s historic 2-0 win against Brazil in the Round of 16, Haaland took over drum-pounding duties from his teammate Martin Odegaard to lead the entire Norwegian fanbase in the ‘Viking Row’, with drum beats.
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Norway-England faceoff
Norway will be facing England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals early Sunday. However, their camp recently recovered from a squad-wide bug
According to reports, the “sickness” was a collection of mild, flu-like symptoms, colds, and minor fevers. Team doctors have cleared all players, indicating nothing major has happened to the squad.
“All players are healthy now,” Norway team doctor Ola Sand said. “Very little fuss considering that we have been close together for almost six weeks. So great that they believe this [the sickness bug rumour]. We are in control.”
Meanwhile, the upcoming World Cup quarter-final fixture may face severe double-weather threats of extreme heat and localised lightning strikes. According to reports, temperatures can soar up to 33°C to 34°C with the “Real Feel” temperature on the pitch hovering between 43°C and 44°C due to intense humidity levels of 60 per cent to 68 per cent.