![\"EAST](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2284798791.jpg\" "\\"EAST")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 05: Erling Haaland #9 of Norway leads teammates in the Viking Row to celebrate the 2-1 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 05, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Elsa<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Norwegian national team, which has captivated World Cup fans with superstar Erling Haaland and the synchronized Viking Row chant, landed in South Florida on Monday and trained in Fort Lauderdale on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon in preparation for Saturday\u2019s quarterfinal against England at Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n
Players were spirited, despite the heat, clapping, cheering and singing at the start of training session at Inter Miami Stadium (formerly Chase Stadium) in Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n
The trip began with a bit of a hiccup, as the team opted to switch hotels after just one night. The Norwegian delegation was scheduled to stay at the Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale for the entire week but chose to move with FIFA\u2019s help.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were some things we would have liked to see differently, and we made a change,\u201d Norway\u2019s World Cup logistics manager Truls D\u00e6hli told Norwegian network TV2. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be here for a week, and we\u2019re already in Week 6 in the USA and are going to play the biggest game in history of our time. So far, we\u2019ve managed to avoid cabin fever, and we didn\u2019t want any risk of it happening now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did not specify the reasons, but TV2 reported that the hotel was noisy because of a nearby construction site, and it is three miles from the beach, which would have been a more desirable location. The team was moved to an undisclosed accommodation closer to the beach.<\/p>\n
According to D\u00e6hli, FIFA agreed to cover the cost of 50 rooms and security at the new hotel, while the Norwegian federation was responsible for covering the difference in room rate because the new venue is more expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood well-being, good mood and good atmosphere are the most important things for us, and we have been met with good understanding from FIFA, who have moved us to the new hotel, D\u00e6hli said. \u201cWe had to make a small adjustment, because this hotel costs more. But we are incredibly satisfied with the way things have been responded to here. There are only happy faces here now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norway coach Stale Solbakken dismissed reports that a flu or virus was running through the camp, saying reports were exaggerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cOdegaard\u2019s uncle, who is a physio, is sick, not Martin,\u201d Solbakken said, referring to team captain Martin Odegaard. \u201cSo, everything is fine, every player is fine, there\u2019s no sickness among the players. There\u2019s been one or two on the staff, so at this moment we are all ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coach and captain said they are not worried about playing in the South Florida heat and humidity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big change for all of us, we\u2019re from Norway, so we\u2019re not used to this type of weather, but the good thing is we\u2019ve been in America for a while now, and we\u2019re getting used to it,\u201d Odegaard said. \u201cI feel like we\u2019ve been really good in the games. Maybe one of the games we had a lot of cramps, but apart from that, it\u2019s not a big problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Solbakken added: \u201cThe weather is the same for both teams. We\u2019re both from the North, so neither of these teams is used to this kind of heat, it\u2019s equal for both, so no excuses.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"FORT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285232142.jpg\" "\\"GettyImages-2285232142.jpg\\"")
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – JULY 08: Norway trains during the training and press conference ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between England and Norway at Inter Miami CF Stadium on July 08, 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato\/Getty Images) Carmen Mandato Getty Images <\/p>\n
Norwegian fans are also happy and ready to row after their team knocked out five-time World Cup champion Brazil to reach the quarterfinals. Norway has never advanced so far. A special flight for Norwegian World Cup fans from Oslo to Miami sold out almost immediately, according to airline Norse Atlantic Airways, which was looking to add more flights.<\/p>\n
The Viking Row has become a global phenomenon during the tournament. By now, everyone knows the drill:<\/p>\n
Fans decked in red, white, and blue sit in rows, one behind the other. Arms reach forward. Bodies lean back. A drum beats. Somebody yells \u201cRo!\u201d, and then the whole group begins to row.<\/p>\n
Since the tournament began, they have rowed on escalators, on subway platforms, in Times Square in New York City, at a Mets game at CitiField, and at the Norwegian Parliament.<\/p>\n
![\"NEW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2283154730.jpg\" "\\"GettyImages-2283154730.jpg\\"")
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 24: Fans of Norway National team perform a ‘Viking Row’ during the sixth inning between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs in game one of a doubleheader at Citi Field on June 24, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant\/Getty Images) Ishika Samant Getty Images <\/p>\n
The Viking Row began in December 2025, when superfan Ole Froystad \u2014 now affectionately known as \u201cMr Row Row\u201d \u2014 came up with a chant inspired by the history of Viking rowing. It caught on with the official supporters group and went viral.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really special to see our team in the quarterfinals, it gathers people in a special way that we haven\u2019t seen before,\u201d said Hallvoard Slenneng Jensen, a Norwegian student pilot at OSM Aviation in Fort Lauderdale, who waited in the stadium parking lot during Norway\u2019s training session hoping to catch a glimpse of the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Norwegian community comes together for winter sports, but this is something really special for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jensen\u2019s friend and fellow aviation student Noah Sundberg had a Norway flag wrapped around his shoulders. They were thrilled when they learned Norway would be playing in Miami and training in Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a 10-out-of-10 coincidence,\u201d Jensen said. \u201cAmazing!\u201d<\/p>\n
They plan to buy tickets for the match but are hoping prices come down a bit. \u201cI set my ceiling at $750, but I think that won\u2019t be enough,\u201d Jensen said.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 4:42 PM.<\/p>\n