Norway fans have plenty to cheer about as their football team continue their bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals and facing England on Saturday to reach the last four.Descendants of the Vikings – known to many through history books and popular television series – have received a celebration inspired by their seafaring heritage. Hundreds of Norwegian fans, joined by stars such as Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard, have come together to renew the Viking’s good performance after winning this World Cup.The celebration has emerged as one of the most popular moments of this World Cup, becoming so popular that Google even created a special video to honor it.However, one fan seems to be unimpressed with what the team is doing. As thousands of fans joined the rowing festival, Emil Lappen appeared to remain silent in protest, refusing to take part in the event.Speaking to Sky Sports in a video interview, Lappen explained the reason for the disagreement.“I just thought it was so stupid, that’s what I felt when they came up with it, that it was stupid and offensive and I didn’t want to do it.“There’s a lot of what the Icelanders did, and the truth is it’s a lie. They didn’t row, they crossed the Atlantic. The change in navigation isn’t enough to make it the same as what they did.”Iceland’s famous Viking Clap became world famous at UEFA Euro 2016. Iceland’s players and supporters will stand together after the game, raising their hands before clapping together chanting “Huh!” , creating one of the most popular football festivals.“Everything they wanted was the same as what people did, and then they just changed the movement. It’s the same. The Vikings crossed the Atlantic. They didn’t row across the Atlantic,” added Lappen.Lappen said the celebration was not historically accurate and said he did not appreciate it.“The Vikings rowed rivers and things like that. But to cross the Atlantic, they sailed. I wanted to show that I didn’t appreciate it, and I think I got the message across. I’ll be helping them comfortably from my chair at home. Don’t row, don’t row anywhere!”The Norwegian fan also criticized a festive song about rowing traditions.“The song they released, along with the rowing. They said they rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and that’s why I’m angry about it.”
The beginning of Viking Row Festival
The now popular festival was one fan’s idea. In December 2025, Norwegian agent Ole Froystad, known as ‘Mr Row Row’, came up with a song.“It’s really nice to see people come together and row as one. It creates a real bond,” Froystad told FIFA. com, adding that the festival has been “a lot bigger than I thought. He is really crazy.The official Norwegian club soon turned the idea into a matchday tradition. “It all started with Ole’s idea. Then we made it together,” Torstein Hamran, a member of the Oljeberget Supporterklubb supporters’ club told FIFA. com.The first attempt against Switzerland in March this year drew mixed reactions. “Some people loved it, while others thought it was stupid,” he admitted. But after our meeting with Sweden in June, everything changed. “This is going to be big,” supporters predicted – and they were right.” added Hamran.
