World Cup 2026: Why Norway Fan Emil Lappen Sat Still Amid Viking Row Chant

But almost more importantly? “It’s factually wrong,” Lappen said, noting the Vikings “didn’t row. They sailed over the Atlantic.”

Indeed, the rowing the motions are meant to call back to the rowing on a Viking ship, which Lappen maintains never actually happened in Viking history as they would have needed sails to cross the Atlantic Ocean, not just oars. 

“They said they were gonna row across the Atlantic, and that’s why I’ve been so annoyed about it,” he added. “The Vikings rowed up rivers and things like that, but across the Atlantic they sailed.”