World Cup
Ecstatic Norway Give No Way for Senegal; Perform the ‘Viking Rowing’ In Their Sail To Knockout Stage
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, METLIFE STADIUM, NEW JERSEY
Norway’s players sat on the pitch and performed the “rowing” celebration made iconic by their fans during the World Cup after reaching the knockout stage with a nervy 3-2 win over Senegal.
The ‘Viking Row’ sees fans sit in a longboat formation shoulder-to-shoulder, uniformly rowing to the beat of a drum, which gradually increases in tempo.
At their first finals since 1998, red-clad Norwegian fans have been doing their Viking row in stadiums, on escalators and even in New York’s Times Square, but it has never been more emotional or joyous than after the final whistle on Monday.
Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland, whose double helped secure the win, brought the squad together to perform the row in front of the fans, but they had to wait for coach Stale Solbakken, who sprinted up the steps in the stand at the final whistle to kiss and hug his wife.
With the squad sitting in rows resembling those of a Viking longboat and Solbakken squeezing into the middle behind Haaland, Odegaard began beating the drum to a joyous climax.
Norway’s players celebrate their dramatic 3-2 victory over Senegal by performing the now-famous “Viking Row” on the pitch. Led by captain Martin Ødegaard on the drum and inspired by Erling Haaland’s match-winning brace, the jubilant Norwegians recreated the fan-inspired ritual after securing a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 1998
TV pictures showed fans back in Trondheim joining in as the celebration brought Norway supporters around the world together, but midfielder Patrick Berg revealed that he did not think the row was going to catch on.
“At the start, I think people doubted a little bit – like, is this something that’s going to last or just something that’s going to die off? But it’s been a massive part of our World Cup so far,” he told reporters.
“Doing it in New York is a really beautiful moment for us together. They started doing it back home in Oslo before we left for the World Cup, and now I think the whole world is aware of it … I feel the energy that we create together with (the fans) is really important for us.”
“It was incredibly fun,” forward Alexander Sorloth said, beaming with pride after the game. “A lot more fun than I would have thought. When you hear the sound, it’s magical.”
Asked how far he and the Viking rowing might take him and his team at the World Cup, Sorloth was confident.
“We’ll see, but if we reach our top level, it’s a tournament and everything can happen, but if we reach our top level, we can go far,” he said.
Norway are second in the group with six points, behind France on goal difference, with the two teams meeting in their final Group I game on Friday.
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Croatia captain Luka Modrić is set to add another chapter to his remarkable FIFA World Cup story, having featured in each of his country’s last 20 matches at the global football showpiece.
The extraordinary run dates back to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. After missing Croatia’s opening match against Brazil, Modrić has not missed a single World Cup game for his country, becoming one of the tournament’s most enduring figures.
Luka Modrić in Croatia colours at the start of his FIFA World Cup journey in 2006 (left) and ahead of the 2026 tournament. The veteran midfielder has featured in each of Croatia’s last 20 World Cup matches, underlining an extraordinary two-decade presence on football’s biggest stage. Photo composite: Getty Images.
Over the course of those 20 matches, the midfield maestro has guided Croatia through some of the most memorable moments in the nation’s football history, including a runners-up finish at Russia 2018 and a third-place finish at Qatar 2022.
The streak underlines Modrić’s exceptional longevity and consistency at the highest level. Now 40 years old, the Real Madrid legend remains a pivotal figure for the Vatreni, continuing to dictate play with the same intelligence and composure that have defined his career.
His uninterrupted World Cup appearance record spans five tournaments — Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and the ongoing 2026 edition — making him one of the most experienced players ever to grace the competition.
As Croatia continue their campaign in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Modrić’s appearance streak stands as a testament to his durability, professionalism and enduring class.
Fact File
- Consecutive Croatia World Cup matches played by Luka Modrić: 20
- The streak began after Croatia’s opening match against Brazil at the 2006.
- Participated in six FIFA World Cup tournaments.
- Captained Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final.
- Helped Croatia finish third at Qatar 2022.
- Set to make his 200th international appearance for Croatia during the 2026 World Cup.
- Widely regarded as Croatia’s most decorated footballer and one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW JERSEY.
Algeria has formally lodged a complaint with FIFA over several officiating decisions during its FIFA World Cup debut against Argentina, with particular focus on an incident involving Argentine captain Lionel Messi that the North African nation believes should have resulted in a red card.
The Algerian Football Federation reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team, arguing that a number of crucial decisions went against the Fennecs during the encounter.
At the heart of the complaint is a first-half challenge involving Messi and Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi. During Argentina’s high press, Messi appeared to step on Mandi’s leg from behind with his studs while challenging for possession.
Although the contact looked significant and carried the potential for injury, neither the referee nor his assistants deemed it worthy of disciplinary action. Messi was not shown a yellow card, and VAR did not recommend an on-field review for a possible red-card offence.
Algerian officials contend that the incident warranted a more severe punishment and could have dramatically altered the course of the match. Had Messi been dismissed, Argentina would have been forced to play most of the game with ten men.
Instead, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remained on the pitch and delivered a match-winning performance, scoring a hat-trick to guide Argentina to victory. The goals further enhanced Messi’s remarkable World Cup legacy, with the 38-year-old extending his record as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
In its submission to FIFA, Algeria argued that the failure to sanction Messi and other contentious officiating decisions had a direct impact on the flow and outcome of the contest.
The complaint has added fresh controversy to a match that was already notable for Messi’s historic achievement. FIFA has yet to comment publicly on Algeria’s allegations or indicate whether the governing body will review the matter.
The dispute is likely to keep the spotlight on refereeing standards and the application of VAR at the World Cup as the tournament progresses.
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KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW JERSEY,
Lionel Messi etched his name even deeper into football history on Monday, becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Austria and a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Argentine captain struck twice in the Group J encounter to take his overall World Cup tally beyond the previous record jointly held with Brazilian women’s football legend Marta, whose 17 goals had stood as the benchmark across both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Messi’s brace also extended his remarkable scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches and lifted his tally at the ongoing tournament to five goals.
The 38-year-old opened the scoring after capping a flowing Argentina move that he had initiated himself. Arriving unmarked inside the penalty area, Messi swept a first-time finish into the bottom corner from a precise low cross by Facundo Medina.
The Argentine superstar later sealed the victory in stoppage time, reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the box to score his second of the night and confirm Argentina’s progression to the round of 16.
Earlier, Messi had passed up the opportunity to break the record from the penalty spot when he sent his effort wide after Lautaro Martínez had been fouled in the area.
The miss, however, proved inconsequential as Messi eventually delivered another masterclass before a sea of Argentina supporters at the stadium in Dallas. Thousands of fans celebrated his historic achievement, chanting his name throughout the contest as the veteran forward continued to build on a World Cup legacy that invites comparison with Argentine icon Diego Maradona.
Just days before his 39th birthday, Messi once again demonstrated his enduring quality, leading the reigning champions to a second consecutive victory following their opening 3-0 triumph over Algeria.
The win guarantees Argentina a place in the knockout rounds with one group match still to play and maintains Lionel Scaloni’s side’s perfect start to the defence of the title they won four years ago.
For Messi, meanwhile, the night marked yet another milestone in a glittering career, as he established a new World Cup scoring record that may stand for years to come.
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Ecstatic Norway Give No Way for Senegal; Perform the ‘Viking Rowing’ In Their Sail To Knockout Stage
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