The Viking chant that became Norway's World Cup rallying cry

Norway fans perform the "Viking row" cheer in the stands during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Norway and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Monday. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Picture this: A group of Norwegian soccer fans, adorned in Viking helmets, sit side by side on a moving escalator in Boston's South Station. They rock back and forth, pulling imaginary oars as they chant in unison. That was the scene captured by member station reporter GBH's Jeremy Siegel, whose video went viral and sparked the trend quickly dubbed the "Viking Row." "I was standing near the top of one of the station's escalators when I suddenly heard a chorus of deep voices shouting, 'Row! Row! Row!'" he recalls. "As the voices got closer, I realized they were coming up the escalator in true Viking style. My first thought was, 'Well, that's something I've never seen before and never will again.' But I was wrong because my video ended up kicking off a viral trend." Along with Scotland's adoring supporters — known as the Tartan Army and equipped with bellowing bagpipes — the Norwegians had descended on the city in droves, soaking up the atmosphere. "Bostonians, you're nice, you're cool," said Norwegian fan Gorm Finne Engelson before making an apt observation: "You have a lot of beer." That beer didn't last long. …