Norway: Fans ready to row to victory ahead of country's first World Cup quarter-final.

Shotlist Oslo, Norway - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of people doing Viking Row in park 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Fredrik Jakobsen, Tromso resident (partially overlaid with shot 3): "I think it was about time to put Norway on the map, for real this time. It's not just the Northern lights, it's football as well." ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 3. Logo of FIFA World Cup 2026 on shirt ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 4. Norwegian Prime Minister during interview 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonas Gahr Store, Norwegian Prime Minister: "We have beaten England before, so they should be aware. They should not take this for granted. They will be surprised." 6. Various of people doing Viking Row in park 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kiril Helleberg, Oslo resident (ending with shot 8): "Haaland is amazing. I think he's a huge role model for everyone, every little boy that wants to be a football player. And even though he's the biggest star in the world, he's still so humble. Norway can row as far as they want." 8. Various of people playing football Storyline Norway is preparing for a World Cup quarter-final against England, a match many fans consider the biggest in the nation's history. The team is led by Erling Haaland, one of the most recognizable strikers, who has already bagged seven goals in his first-ever tournament. With the country now further into the knockout stage than it has ever been before, Norwegians are eager to share their national pride. In Oslo's Palace Park, Tromso resident Fredrik Jakobsen invited tourists for a lesson in how to row a Viking ship. Wearing a Haaland number 9 jersey, Jakobsen used a water bottle to beat his backpack like a drum, as participants rowed their imaginary boat along with the rhythm. This "Viking row" has become a viral sensation, used by the team and supporters as a victory celebration. For fans like Jakobsen, the sound of each forceful grunt filling the stadium after the beating of the drum by Haaland himself has become the soundtrack to a World Cup defined by underdogs. "I think it was about time to put Norway on the map, for real this time. It's not just the Northern lights, it's football as well," said Jakobsen. Last Sunday, some 100,000 Norwegians flooded the streets of Oslo to celebrate their national team's stunning 2–1 victory over Brazil. For decades, Norway's World Cup record was marked by narrow defeats and a best finish in the round of 16. Now that they have reached the quarter finals, the Vikings face England. It won't be an easy match, but according to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, anything is possible. "We have beaten England before, so they should be aware. They should not take this for granted. They will be surprised," said the PM. Norway would not have come this far without Haaland. The Manchester City forward has captured the hearts of even those who rarely watch football, becoming one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. "Haaland is amazing. I think he's a huge role model for everyone, every little boy that wants to be a football player. And even though he's the biggest star in the world, he's still so humble. Norway can row as far as they want," said Kiril Helleberg, Oslo resident.