The Norway national football team's distinctive 2026 World Cup chant has found a new home in American college football. The University of Minnesota's Gophers have adopted the Norwegian 'row' chant during their season opener.

Minnesota coach PJ Fleck, whose long-standing motto is 'Row the Boat', hinted this summer that the chant could make its way to the university's home games. During the season opener against Eastern Illinois on September 4th, it became a reality. Entire sections of Huntington Bank Stadium rowed in unison, just as Norwegian supporters did during the World Cup. Former linebacker Kamal Martin led the inaugural display, the outlet reports.

Minnesota has the largest population of Norwegian Americans in the U.S., making the adoption a natural fit. The chant, where fans simulate rowing while players beat a drum, became a hallmark of Norway's surprise run to the quarter-finals this summer. The national team currently sits second in their qualifying group with six points from three games, three points behind leaders France.

Following a strong World Cup showing where they scored eight goals and conceded seven, Norway has had a mixed start to qualification. They lost their last match 1-2 to England on July 11th, and their recent form across the last five games is three wins and two losses. They have lost their last two matches in a row.

This sets the stage for their next fixture, a home clash against rivals Denmark on September 24th. The match is a key part of a tight group standings race where every point matters. Their victory over Brazil in the World Cup round of 16 showed the squad's potential, but consistency is now key.

An image from Reuters Connect shows Leo Østigård and Erik Botheim during a training session in Chișinău on March 21, 2025, as part of their qualification preparations. Such sessions build the team's cohesion and tactical understanding. For fans tracking player progress, detailed team statistics are available.

Manager Ståle Solbakken has a strong foundation to build upon but must find the right balance to reverse the recent negative trend. The next opportunity comes at home against Denmark, a fixture that always carries extra weight. A win is vital to keep pace with France at the top of the group.

The Norway national football team faces Denmark at Ullevaal Stadium on September 24, 2026.