If Norway get past England in this weekend’s World Cup quarter-final, one supporter still won’t be taking part in one of the team’s most talked-about traditions.
Norway have been one of the standout sides of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far, most notably after eliminating Brazil with a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The viral “Viking Row” has become part of the team’s matchday identity during the tournament, with fans and players using the synchronized rowing motion as a stadium celebration that has spread rapidly online. Similar in spirit to other iconic football fan displays, it is less a historical reenactment than a modern, communal chant-and-gesture routine built for atmosphere.
Fans erupted when Erling Haaland found the net twice, including a decisive strike in the 90th minute, prompting huge sections of the Norwegian support to break into their now-famous ‘Viking Row’ celebration.
The gesture has become so well known that searching Erling Haaland on Google even triggers an animation based on it.
But one supporter, Emil Anners Lappen, has made it clear he will not be joining in. He recently drew attention online after appearing motionless while people around him took part during a widely shared crowd shot.
Explaining his stance in an interview with Sky News, he said: “First of all, I just find it really stupid.
“When they came up with it, I thought it was stupid, and annoying, and I didn’t want to do it.”
"They can win whatever they want, I will not row."
Norway fan Emil Lappen explains to @BarbaraGSerra why he won't be taking part in the Viking row while watching his team play at the World Cup.
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He also took issue with the idea behind it, adding: “It copies a lot of what Iceland were doing, and it’s factually wrong; they didn’t row, they sailed over the Atlantic,” he continued, referring to the Icelandic ‘Thunderclap,’ which they did during the 2016 Euros.
Lappen argued that, even if the actual movements are not the same, both displays are aiming for a similar public response.
He also pointed to what he sees as a historical inaccuracy in the celebration, saying the Vikings were known for sailing across the Atlantic rather than rowing.
As he put it: “The Vikings rowed up rivers and things like that, but across the Atlantic, they sailed,” he said.
The celebration has also been widely discussed because it taps into a broader Nordic football tradition of fan-led, highly coordinated support. For many supporters, that is exactly the point: the spectacle is meant to be loud, playful and instantly recognizable, even if it is not historically precise.
Since Norway’s 3-2 victory over Senegal, Lappen has been recognized far beyond his home country. Even so, while he will keep backing the national side, he has no intention of joining in with the rowing celebration, even if Norway go all the way.
As for Norway’s broader chances, the question is no longer being dismissed.
They may never have won the World Cup, but their run in this tournament has shown they are genuine contenders, especially after the statement win over Brazil and a string of impressive performances.
England, led by Harry Kane, will present a major challenge, and they are still widely tipped to reach the semi-finals. Even so, Norway have already shown they are capable of upsetting the odds.
If they do make it through, they would likely face the winner of Argentina vs Switzerland.
And if they reach the final, the most probable opponent would be tournament favourites France.
Stranger things have happened.