FIFA WC 2026: Norway mark Round of 32 qualification with ‘Viking row’ after dramatic 3-2 win over Senegal

Norway celebrated a long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages with a thunderous “Viking row” alongside thousands of supporters after securing a 3-2 victory over Senegal and a place in the Round of 32.

Led by a brace from Erling Haaland, Norway booked their passage to the knockout rounds with a game to spare in Group I, sparking jubilant scenes at the New Jersey Stadium. Moments after the final whistle, players and coaching staff dropped to their knees on the pitch and joined fans in a synchronised Viking row, a tradition that has become one of the defining images of the tournament.

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The celebration, inspired by Norway’s seafaring heritage, has gained worldwide attention during the World Cup. Norwegian supporters have been filmed performing the Viking row in fan zones, on city streets and even on escalators across the United States, turning it into a viral phenomenon.

The craze has stretched far beyond football grounds. Ahead of Norway’s qualification-clinching match, large groups of supporters gathered in New York’s Times Square to perform the Viking row, while politicians back home in Norway also joined the trend, recreating the celebration inside the national parliament in support of the team.

The jubilant scenes marked a significant milestone for Norway, who are making their first men’s World Cup appearance since 1998. Before departing for the tournament, the squad even posed as Vikings in a special photoshoot, embracing the identity that has since captured the imagination of fans around the world.

On the pitch, Haaland once again proved decisive. The Manchester City striker scored twice to take his tally to four goals in two matches, becoming the first player since Harry Kane in 2018 to score multiple goals in each of his first two World Cup appearances.

Norway took the lead just before halftime when Marcus Holmgren Pedersen capitalised on a mistake by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and fired home in the 43rd minute.

Haaland doubled the advantage three minutes into the second half, calmly finishing after being picked out by captain Martin Odegaard. Although Ismaila Sarr pulled one back for Senegal in the 53rd minute, Haaland restored Norway’s two-goal cushion five minutes later with a close-range finish.

Sarr struck again deep into stoppage time to set up a nervy finish, but Norway held firm to secure the victory that guaranteed progression to the knockout stage.

The win continued Haaland’s remarkable international scoring streak, taking his record to 59 goals in 52 appearances for Norway. It also keeps him firmly in the race for the Golden Boot alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

For Norway, however, the bigger achievement was ending a 28-year wait for World Cup knockout football, a feat celebrated in fitting fashion with thousands of fans rowing in unison long after the final whistle.