Norway beat Senegal 3-2 on June 23 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, securing early qualification for the round of 32 knockout stage [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The victory drew 80,663 spectators, the largest attendance ever for a Norway national team match since 1957 [4, 7].
Erling Haaland scored twice in the match, bringing his tournament total to four goals, second only to Lionel Messi's five in the Golden Boot race [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Norway's captain Martin Ødegaard led the team and fans in the "Viking Row" celebration, beating drums to simulate Viking longship rowing after the game [1, 2, 3, 5, 8]. Players and coaches, including head coach Ståle Solbakken who first celebrated with his family in the stands, joined the formation on the pitch, with supporters both in the stadium and watching remotely from Trondheim joining in [1, 2, 3, 5].
The Viking Row has become a popular symbol of unity, teamwork, and the Viking spirit for Norway’s team and fans, performed widely at venues including New York City’s subway and Times Square during the tournament [1, 3, 9, 5, 10, 11, 8]. Alexander Sorloth described it as "more fun than I imagined" and "magical when you hear the sound" [1]. Morten Thorsby called the packed stadium full of Norwegian fans "an unforgettable moment" [4].
Norway shares six points with France at the top of Group I but trails on goal difference. The two teams meet June 27 to decide the group winner [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12]. Norway’s appearance marks their first World Cup finals since 1998, ending a 28-year absence [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8].
The Viking Row celebration drew mixed reactions in neighboring Nordic countries, with Swedish players criticizing its overuse and Danish media expressing envy and frustration. "I definitely wouldn’t do that," said Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, calling it "Nordic adult bullying" [12].
Post-match celebrations in Norway sparked debate about whether late-night matches should prompt public holidays the next day due to sleep loss [4, 7]. Head coach Solbakken shrugged off the group position, saying "I don’t care, we are already qualified" [7]. Norway will face France on June 27 to fight for top spot in Group I.
