{"id":2936,"date":"2026-06-17T14:05:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T14:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2936"},"modified":"2026-06-17T14:05:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T14:05:35","slug":"what-is-the-viking-row-and-why-are-norwegian-fans-doing-it-all-over-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2936","title":{"rendered":"What is the \u2018Viking Row\u2019 and why are Norwegian fans doing it all over town?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FOXBOROUGH \u2014 While chatting with fans on the concourse Tuesday evening at Boston Stadium, a pair of Norwegians wanted to teach me their \u201cViking Row.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Here\u2019s how the Patriots\u2019 running back depth chart looks with training camp beginning next month<\/a><\/p>\n

So, I lined up next to them, extended my arms, and drew my elbows back. <\/span><\/p>\n

No, no, no, they said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Apparently, I needed to lead with my chest and then lean back as I bent my arms. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to go forward and then row,\u201d one of them corrected me. \u201cIt\u2019s very important. You have to do it with all of your body. It looks much better if everybody does it correctly.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s usually a drum that signals the row, but the Norwegians had no problems getting organized without it. A couple of crews even managed to get in sync while riding the escalators at both TD Garden and South Station before the game. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The two fans that taught me, Petter Sletaume and Simen Sagli, were among the tens of thousands of Norwegians to travel to Massachusetts to watch their country compete against Iraq in its opening group stage match. Their decision to buy tickets was a no-brainer. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the smallest town in the US?\u201d Sletaume said. \u201cIt\u2019s like if they qualified for the Super Bowl. Like Hawaii qualified for the Super Bowl.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s basically the one thing you do in 50 years,\u201d added Sagli. <\/span><\/p>\n

Norway last qualified for the World Cup in 1998, when they advanced to the Round of 16. The country has only two other appearances (1994 and 1938). After a 28-year drought, it\u2019s unsurprising Norwegians jumped at the chance to cheer for their country in person. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we post photos, every person that\u2019s home now is just jealous and saying that we need to cheer for our team,\u201d said Gisle Moe, who flew into Boston on Monday to watch the game on Tuesday and then return to Norway on Wednesday. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody in Norway wants to be here right now,\u201d echoed Kristian Haug. <\/span><\/p>\n

On Monday night, more than 2,000 Norwegians gathered at Big Night Live to celebrate their return to soccer\u2019s biggest stage. According to folks that went, they spent the night reveling. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExpect sing-alongs, energy, and competitions, and that feeling you only get when something big is about to happen,\u201d read a translation of the event\u2019s description. \u201cThis is the start. Now begins the biggest adventure of the summer.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Those in attendance on Tuesday were treated to a thrilling 4-1 victory, which featured two stunning goals from star striker Erling Haaland. Throughout the game, the sections decked out in red and blue operated as one \u2014 serenading the crowd, belting out chants, and, of course, orchestrating their classic \u201cViking Row.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Although the Scots and the Tartan Army have taken over Boston, winning over the hearts of many, the Norwegians seemingly have begun to lay claim, too. <\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Will Brockton\u2019s AJ Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson go No. 1 in the NBA Draft? Now, it\u2019s not so clear.<\/a><\/p>\n

Their vibe on Tuesday was infectious. When the video board showed Norway\u2019s players walking off the team buses before kickoff, the fans began singing their rallying anthem, \u201cAlt for Norge,\u201d or \u201cAll for Norway.\u201d After the final whistle, the crowd once again broke out into song. <\/span><\/p>\n

Even after both teams had exited the pitch, several fans remained in their seats, jumping around, waving their flags, and whistling in jubilation. At one point, some tried to start a round of the \u201cViking Row\u201d but ended up quickly abandoning the move only after a few reps in because they couldn\u2019t help but dance. <\/span><\/p>\n

The celebration eventually moved to the concourse, where all of the aforementioned fanfare continued, and likely extended late into the night. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt means everything to the whole nation,\u201d Herman Oterhals said. \u201cIt\u2019s like the only sport Norwegians follow.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Norway, they even bend the political rules so almost everybody can drink,\u201d added Sagli. \u201cIt\u2019s that big.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Norway now sits atop Group I with France. Up next is a match in Philadelphia against Senegal on June 22, before a return to Boston Stadium on June 26 to face France. Tuesday\u2019s win puts them in a strong position to advance to the Round of 32. <\/span><\/p>\n

Haaland\u2019s prowess and the team\u2019s relentless attack gives Norwegians hope that this squad could be one of the World Cup\u2019s biggest sleepers among the usual powerhouses of France, Spain, England, Portugal, and Argentina. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever happens, happens,\u201d John Magne Kveamme said. \u201cIf we go on to the semifinal, it\u2019s just a big bonus.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Another fan interjected. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy, he doesn\u2019t know what he\u2019s talking about,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to win the World Cup.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Why are traffic cones appearing on statues all over Boston during the World Cup? The Scots explain.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cEverybody in Norway wants to be here right now,\u201d one fan told the Globe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is the \u2018Viking Row\u2019 and why are Norwegian fans doing it all over town? - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2936\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is the \u2018Viking Row\u2019 and why are Norwegian fans doing it all over town? - Boston Relocation Insider\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cEverybody in Norway wants to be here right now,\u201d one fan told the Globe.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2936\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Boston Relocation Insider\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-17T14:05:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c08a982d5d5e7124cea9158df226037e\"},\"headline\":\"What is the \u2018Viking Row\u2019 and why are Norwegian fans doing it all over town?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-17T14:05:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936\"},\"wordCount\":827,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/c61069d28af302cf4c6dd7232b9b4561.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=2936\",\"name\":\"What is the \u2018Viking Row\u2019 and why are Norwegian fans doing it all over town? 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